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i;*rORT   NEW  AM-STERDAi^ 


(mew  YORK:)  , .  1651. 


"When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Ever'thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  hook." 


Avery  Af<chitectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


Digitized  by 

the  Internet  Archive 

in  2013 

http://archive.org/details/brooklynsguardiaOOfale 


i 


GXJARDING  THE  HOME. 


Brooklyn's  Guardians: 

A  Record  of  the  Faithful  and  Heroic  Men  who 
Preserve  the  Peace 

IX  THE 

CITY  OF  HOMES. 


BY 

WILLIAM  E.  S,  FALLS. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


BROOKLYN,  1887. 


COPYRIGHT,  1887, 

BY 

W.  E.  S.  FALES. 


PREFACE. 


Probably  the  most  important  branch  of  civic  govern- 
ment is  the  pohce  force.  Daily  familiarity  with  it,  as 
it  performs  its  unostentatious  duties,  no  doubt  dulls 
the  general  perception  of  its  preservative  mission  ;  but 
if  one  will  stop  to  think  for  a  moment  on  what  the  con- 
dition of  a  great  city  would  be,  suddenly  deprived  of 
police  protection,  the  inestimable  value  of  a  police  de- 
partment will  become  apparent. 

Of  all  the  great  cities  of  the  world,  one  stands  pre- 
eminent in  the  preservation  of  public  order  and  in  the 
purity  of  public  morals.  That  city  is  Brooklyn.  This 
flattering  condition  of  alfairs  is  due  to  many  causes  ;  but 
without  doubt  the  most  potent  factor  among  these  causes 
has  been  and  is  her  superb  police  force  ;  and  it  is  a  little 
singular  that  up  to  the  present  time  no  compilation  of 
its  achievements  has  been  prepared.    Poets  have  sung 


iv  PREFACE. 

and  liistoriaiis  have  recorded  the  deeds  of  soldiers  and 
sailors  innumerable  ;  but  the  humble  policeman  quietly 
performing  his  daily  duty  has  been  permitted  to  remain 
in  obscurity. 

The  writer  has  endeavored  to  rescue  from  this  obscurity 
some  of  the  doings  of  Brooklyn's  Guardians  ;  and  the 
task  has  been  found  a  pleasant  one,  for  as  the  archives 
of  police  history  are  studied  the  romance  of  the  patrol- 
man's life  becomes  as  apparent  as  that  of  the  soldier.  In 
the  glare  of  day  and  in  the  dark  of  night  he  perpetually 
confronts  the  enemies  of  society,  ready  to  defend  at  any 
moment  with  his  life  and  honor  the  insidious  attacks  of 
vice  and  crime  upon  the  public  well-being. 

Seldom  does  a  citizen  think,  as  he  enjoys  the  security 
of  his  home,  or  follows  his  business  avocations  in  peace 
and  safety,  how  much  he  owes  to  tho  quiet  blue-coaled 
man  pursuing  his  ceaseless  round  from  morn  till  mid- 
night. How  suddenly  and  splendidly  was  this  brought 
home  to  the  public  mind  when  the  Anarchists  of  Chicago 
gave  the  alarm  for  the  uprising  of  the  mob  against  the 
law.  Heroic  policemen  marched  through  and  over  those 
terrible  engines  of  destruction — the  dynamite  bombs — 
with  steadfast  determination  and  invincible  courage  ; 
and  in  a  like  emergency  in  our  own  beloved  city,  if 
such  a  thing  could  be  imagined,  the  blue  coats  of  Brook- 


PREFACE.  T 

lyn  would  be  found  at  tlie  front  as  fearless  and  as 
resolute  as  their  brothers  of  Chicago. 

In  the  following  pages  the  origin,  growth  and  devel- 
opment of  the  Brooklyn  i)olice  force  are  traced.  Brief 
sketches  are  given  of  the  more  distinguished  members 
of  the  force,  and  mention  is  made  of  their  more  notable 
achievements.  It  would  have  been  the  writei- s  pleasure 
to  have  written  the  history  of  every  member  of  the  de- 
partment, but  to  do  so  would  have  demanded  a  series  of 
bulky  volumes,  at  jn-esent  impracticable  to  produce. 
But  as  every  member  of  the  police  force  feels  a  proper 
pride  in  what  has  been  done  by  his  brethren,  those 
whose  names  are  unnoticed  will  appreciate  the  fact  that 
their  owm  glory  is  identical  with  that  of  all. 

The  writer  desires  to  acknowledge  his  indebtedness  to 
Commissioner  Thomas  Carroll,  Deputy-Commissioner 
Dallon,  Superintendent  Campbell,  and  Mr.  Frederick  L. 
Jenkins,  for  valuable  assistance  and  kindly  help  in  the 
preparation  of  this  work.  Indeed,  without  their 
hearty  co-operation  and  their  inteUigent  aid,  it 
would  have  been  impossible  to  produce  an  accurate 
record. 

Thanks  are  also  due  to  the  distinguished  photographer, 
Mr.  Frank  Pearsall,  who  furnished  the  admirable  pho- 


Vi.  PREFACE. 

tographs  from  which  the  engravings  were  made  which 
ornament  this  hook. 

Besides  the  gentlemen  named,  thanks  are  also  due  to 
the  inspectors,  captains  and  many  other  officers  of  the 
force,  who  have  all  done  that  they  could  to  help  the 
writer. 

The  work  is  now  presented  to  the  public  with  the  con- 
sciousness that  however  imperfect  may  be  its  manner  of 
execution,  it  will  be  found  accurate  and  reliable  in  all  its 
details. 

William  E.  S.  Fales. 

Brooklyn,  1887. 


4 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

From  1636  to  1T85. 

Settlement  of  Gowaxus  (1636).— The  Indian  Uprising  of  1648.— 
Founding  of  the  Hamlet,  "  The  Ferry."— "  Breuckelen  " 
Established  and  Schepens  Appointed  (1646).  —Duties  of  the 
ScHOUT  AND  Constables.— Troubles  with  "  Sound  Robbers  " 
— To^^'N  Guards  Organized.— The  Minute  Men.— The  Munic- 
ipal Powers  of  Breuckelen  Enlarged. — Extraordinary 
Duties  of  the  Village  Schoolmaster.— Governor  Xicolls' 
Patent  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Breuckelen  (1667). — First 
Court  Held  in  Kings  County  (1669). — Odd  Court  Records. — 
Beer  and  Bravery  :  Trying  Ordeal  of  a  Citizen  Soldier. — 
The  Predicament  of  a  "  Strange  Man."— Court-house  and 
Jail  Erected  at  Flatbush  (1686). — First  Public  House  in 
"  Breuckelen  "  Licensed  (1668).— The  Sheriff  and  Magis- 
trate AS  Conservators  of  the  Peace. — Stocks  and  a  Pound 
Ordered  by  the  Court. — Instructions  to  Constables. — An 
Illiterate  Officer. — The  Dutch  Settlers  and  the  War  of 
the  Revolution. — Depredations  by  the  Whaleboat  Men. — 
The  Town-house  "  at  Bushwick.— Punishment  of  a  Lam 
pooNER  — Justice  and  Holland  Rum  Dispensed  Lender  One 
Roof  

CHAPTER  II 

From  1785  to  1850. 

Two   Constables   Guard  the  Town.— Hix  and  De  B.  Yoise.— 
Eighteen  Dollars  a  Year  Salary. — An  Additioi^al  Tipstaff 


vnr 


CONTENTS. 


IN  1804. — Remarkably  Variegated  Duties. — Fees  of  Ye 
Olden  Tyme. — Detectives  Unknown. — How  they  Caught  a 
Chicken  Thief,— Breaking  Jail  by  Kicking  the  Window 
Out. — What  the  Lock-up  Probably  Was. — Good  Thing  for 
"Drunks." — 1809  Brings  Constable  No.  4. — Poor  Place  for 
Thieves. — Money  and  Barter. — Burglaries  by  Seamen. — 
Justice  Nichol  and  Rike  Reid.— 1810  Doggerel. — A  Polite 
Magistrate. — Five  Constables  in  1825. — "Divvying  Up" 
WITH  Lawyers. — Enterprise  in  Collecting  Taxes. — Immi- 
gration INTO  Brooklyn. — Real  Estate  Lively. — A  New  Jail. 
— River-thieves  make  Their  Appearance. — Where  they 
Came  From. — Sailors  Then  and  Now. — Old  Admiralty  and 
Criminal  Records.  —  Universal  Drunkenness.  —  Lyman 
Beecher.— How  Drunkards  were  Treated  and  How  Re- 
garded BY  Society. — Drunken  Officers — A  Fine  Piece  op 
Detectrte  Work. — How  Constable  Bergen  Found  the  Car- 
pet Bag. — Clews  Ingeniously  Run  Down. — 1835,  Brooklyn 
Now  A  City. — Fighting  Watchmen. — The  Pleasant  Pastime 
op  Hunting  Policemen. — Thieves  Enjoy  Themselves. — 1840, 
Burglaries. — The  Phelps  Murder. —  Miscarriage  of  Jus- 
tice.— Saturnalia  op  Stealing. — The  Muster  Roll  of  the 
Gangs. — Receivers  or  Fences. — Where  They  Used  to  Be. — 
Wanted,  a  Police  Department. — Who  Fought  For  It  and 
Who  Against. — It  Comes  in  1850  


CHAPTER  III. 

From  1850  to  1876. 

John  S.  Folk.  —  The  First  Police  Administration.  —  Folk's 
Admirable  Common  Sense. — A  Quiet  Period. — 1857,  The 
Metropolitan  Police  District  Scheme. — A  Political  Mon- 
strosity.— Why  the  Job  Was  Put  Up. — Its  True  Inwardness. 


CONTENTS. 


T 


—James  W.  Nye  First  Commissioner. — Brooklyn  Goes  to 
Mulberry  Street,  New  York.— The  Old  Precincts  Renum- 
bered.— Sanitary  Squad  Created. — Political  Results. — 
James  S.  T.  Stranahan  a  Commissioner,— His  Noble  Life  and 
Works.— A  Typical  American  Citizen.— A  Statue  in  Pros- 
pect Park.— 1860  —The  Old  Wards  and  the  New.— Thomas 
R.  B.  Stillman,  President  of  the  Metropolitan  Board.— 
The  Civil  War. — New  Responsibilities — The  Draft  Riots. — 
Economy  and  Reduction. — Bad  Appointments. — Cumbrous 
Administration. — Rings  and  Scandals — 1866  Brings  Improve- 
ments.— New  Headquarters.— Vast  Improvements  Projected 
Everywhere  in  the  City. — Death  of  Hon.  John  G.  Bergen. — 
The  Bergen  Family. — 1869.— "Tom"  Acton  Resigns  and  is  Suc- 
ceeded BY  "  Hank"  Smith  as  President. — Nightly  Lodgers. 
— Once  a  Blessing  ;  Now  a  Curse. — Send  Them  to  Jail. 
— 1870  Restores  Home-rule  to  Brooklyn.  —  Daniel  D. 
Briggs  and  Isaac  Van  Anden,  Commissioners.— Folk  Dis- 
placed by  THE  Present  Chief.— New  Headquarters  Again — 
The  New  Force. — Telegraph  Improvements. — Their  Re- 
sults.— Fires  Inflict  Less  Injury.— 1872  Sees  Briggs,  Gen. 

JOURDAN    AND   KaUFMAN,    COMMISSIONERS.— POLITICS  AgAIN.— 

Brooklyn  vs.  Albany. — Cart-rung  ]\[urder — Officer  Dona- 
hue Killed  by  Henry  Rodgers. — The  Assassin  Hung. — 1874, 
Jourdan  and  Jensen. — The  Muster  Roll  of  Captains — 1875 
Supplants  the  Old  Commissioners  with  Briggs,  Pyburn  and 
HuRD.  —  Stolen  Property. — Detectives  and  Criminals. — 
More  Murders  and  Convictions  

CHAPTER  IV. 

From  1877  to  1884.  - 
Manufactories  Encroach  Upon  Homes,  Especially  in  the  River 
Wards. — The  Brooklyn  Bank  Embezzlement. — A  Colossal 
Bribe. — Two  Faithful  Detectives. — A  Wealthy  Suicide. — 


X 


CONTEXTS. 


A  Mounted  Officer  Dies  in  Doing  His  Duty.— Heroic  Gus 
Weisman. — Commissioners  Ward  and  White. — The  Deadly 
Kerosene  Lamp. — Bureau  of  Combustibles. — Brooklyn's 
Superb  Moral  Condition  in  1878.— A  Fire-bug  Caught  and 
Caged.  -Narrow  Escape  of  Work-people. — Tavo  Burglars 
Attempt  to  Kill  an  Officer. — The  Planet  Mills  Highway- 
men PUT  Behind  Bars. — A  Murder  Traced  by  Pig-iron, — A 
Blot  on  the  Police-escutcheon. — Bill  Blake  Hammers  the 
Life  Out  of  Patrick  White. — Traced  by  His  Hat. — Pyburn 
and  Leich  Assume  the  Purple.— Meyners  Assassinates 
Patrck  McDermott.  —  Tarantino  Carves  Matting  with 
.A  Razor. — Two  Gangs  Broken  Up.— Steers  and  Colell, 
THE  New  Commissioners.  —  The  Murder  of  Officer 
Stone.  —  Ostermeyer  Hacks  His  Wife.  —  Killed  by  a 
Billiard-cue,  —  James  Walsh,  Crazed  with  Love  and 
Liquor,  Kills  His  Sweetheart  and  is  Hung.  —  Detective 
Chambers  Nearly  Killed. — Becker,  the  Queer. — Lauer  and 
Evans  Come  into  Power. — A  Child  Kidnapped. — Kenny  Kills 
Lennon. — Assorted  Murders. — The  Narrow  Escape  of 
Brave  Detectives  Looney  and  Carr  

CHAPTER  V. 
From  1884  to  1887. 

Gen.  Jourdan  Retires  from  Municipal  Service.— His  Splendid 
Record  as  Soldier,  Militiaman,  Official,  Politician  and 
Man  of  Affairs. — Col.  Partridge  Succeeds  Him. — Francis 
L.  Dallon  Made  Deputy  Commissioner.  —  Lauer  and 
Evans  Continued  as  Excise  Commissioners. — A  New  Sub-pre- 
cinct, the  Sixth. — Clara  Groblenski  Poisoned. — An  Insane 
Borgia. — The  Herrick  Murder. — McDonald  Scissored  to 
Death  by  a  Mad  Italian.— A  Homicidal  Husband.— The  1885 
Election. — The  Difficulties  of  the  Newly  Elected  ^dmin- 


CONTENTS. 


iSTRATioN.  —  Police  and  Excise.  —  The  Latteu's  Unpopu- 
larity.—Liqi^or  Business.— The  Gordian  Knot  Cut.— Hon. 
Thomas  Carroll,  One  of  Brooklyn's  Best  Men,  :srADE  Police 
Commissioner.— Dallon  Retained.— Nfiw  Excise  Commis- 
sioners—Criminal Events. —Arrest  of  George  Me:yer,  ^VHO 
Worked  Bogus  Cheques  — George  Potteh,  Boarding-house 
Fiend,  Collared.  —  Miller,  a  Scientific  Burglar,  Taken 
Care  of  — ^McPartland  Bamboozles  the  Police.— Michael 
Maiiady,  the  Uxoricide.— Florence  May  Barton  Sault,  the 
Unexcelled  Liar.— Increased  Timidity  of  Out-op-town 
AND  Domestic  Thieves.  —  Detective  Chambers  on  the 
Alert.— Capt.  Campbell  Bounces  a  Pickpocket.  -  Favors  to 
Thieves.— Their  Abject  Subjugation  


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Present  Status  of  the  Organization. 

The  Muster  Roll.— The  Headquarters. — Where  the  Offices 
ARE  Situated. — One-man  Power. — The  Commissioner,  His 
Powers  and  Duties. — His  Annual  Report. — The  Deputy- 
commissioner.  —  His  Duties  —  The  Superintendent. — His 
Duties  and  Vast  Business. — Where  He  Is. — His  Watch- 
dog.— Cranks  Who  Worry  Him. — The  Way  He  Does  .Busi- 
ness. —  Two  Swindlers  Cross-examined.  —  The  Property- 
clerk  AND  THE  Property-rooms.  —  What  He  Does.  —  His 
Curiosity  Shop. — The  Fire  Marshal. — An  Odd  Combination 
OF  Duties. — The  Inspectors — Captains  and  Commanding 
Sergeants  — Lines  Not  Thrown  in  Easy  Places. — Multi- 
farious Work. — Roundsmen  — A  Patrolman's  Lot  is  Not  a 
Happy  One. — What  He  Does. — His  Offences. — How  to  Be  a 
Policeman. — What  He  Must  Measure  and  Weigh,  Know 
AND  Say. — The  Board  op  Excise  — Its  Jurisdiction  and 


XII 


CONTEXTS. 


Duties.— The  Licenses  and  the  License  Fees.— The  Ratio  of 
Saloons  to  the  Population. — Some  Organizations  

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Heads  of  Police  and  Excise. 

The  Official  Head  op  Police.— Commissioner  Thomas  Carroll. 
—His  Birth  and  Early  Career.— His  Youth  in  Williams- 
burgh.  —  An  Apprentice  Cooper.  —  A  Boss. — A  Tobacco 
Sampler — His  Prosperity  and  Business  Career. — A  Born 
Politician.  —  Delegate  and  Leader.  —  His  Political 
Work. — The  Secret  of  His  Popularity. — The  Head  of  the 
Force.  —  Superintendent  Patrick  Campbell.  —  His  Daily 
Life. — A  Boy  in  the  Eagle  Office. — From  "  Devil  "  to  Fore- 
man. —  A  Politician.  —  Collector.  —  Sheriff. — Chief. — His 
Superb  Management. — He  Protects  Vacant  Homes. — Drives 
Out  Sneak-thieves.  —  Closes  Disorderly  Places.  —  His 
Detective  Genius. — Searching  a  Whole  City. — His  Per- 
sonality.—The  Twin  Heads  of  Excise. —  "  Honest  John 
Cunningham  "  and  John  Schliemann. — Brip:f  Story  of  Their 
Lives  

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Chief  Subordinates  of  the  Department. 

Francis  L.  Dallon,  the  Deputy-commissioner  of  Police. — Start- 
ing Life  a  Lawyer. — His  Legal  Ability  Makes  Him  a  Magis- 
trate. —  An  Ornament  to  the  Bench.  —  An  Important 
Official  Career.  —  Inspector  John  Mackellar  — A  Man 
Whose  Humor  Has  Made  Him  Famous. — His  Life  Work. — 
From  Fighting  Rioters  When  a  Youth,  to  Governing  a 
Great  District  When  a  Matured  Man.— His  Views  on 
Crooked  People. — Inspector  Edward  Reilly.— A  Splendid 
Soldier  in  the  Sixties.— Equally  Successful  as  a  Guardian 


CONTENTS. 


XIII 


OF  THE  Peace. — Inspector  McLaughlin.— A  Soldier  Who 
Sees  Service  in  the  Shenandoah  Under  Sheridan  and  Re- 
turns WITH  Laurels. — A  Natural  Detective. — Features  of 
Drilling   134 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  Chief  Subordinates  of  the  Departments. — Continued. 

Frederick  L.  Jenkins,  Clerk  of  the  Superintendent. — A  Born 
Student,  Statistician  and  Scientist.  —  His  Life  Work 
Briefly  Considered. — His  Contributions  to  Police  Liter- 
ature AND  General  Service. — William  Muldoon,  Property- 
clerk. — A  Famous  Journalist,  Wit  and  Humorist. — A  Care- 
ful Official.  —  His  Duties.  —  Thomas  Carroll,  Jr., 
Clerk  of  the  Commissioner.— A  St.  Johns  College  Man 
WHO  IS  Doing  Well.  —  A  Hard  Worker.  —  William  D. 
Lohman,  Cashier  of  Excise.— A  Typical  German.— The  Suc- 
cess and  Popularity  of  a  Tammany  Graduate. — Almet  F. 
Jenks. — Corporation  Counsel. — A  Few  Lines  Upon  a  Dis- 
tinguished Lawyer   155 


CHAPTER  X. 
Special  Features  op  the  Police  Department. 

THE   police  telegraph. 

When  Started.— Its  Early  Equipment.— George  H.  Flanley 
and  His  Work.— Where  Situated.— Early  Way  of  Working. 
—The  Staff  in  Those  Days.— The  Telephone.— The  Present 
Force.— The  1887  Statute.— Difficulties  Under  the  Civil 
Service.— The  "Three  Trains."— Home  for  Reporters. 

THE  patrol  wagon. 

When  Started.— Its  First  Job.— How  it  Works.— The  Patrol 


XIV 


CONTENTS. 


Wagoners— Paddy    Dowd   and  the  Bridge.— A  Drunken 
Virago. — A  Heavy  Load. 

the  patrol  boxes. 
Begun  in  1886. — Game  well  the  Inventor. — Description  of  Box, 
— How  it  is  Worked.— The  Calls  and  Answers. — Telephone 
vs.  Pearson  and  Jones.— A  Watch  Upon  Watchmen. — The 
Expansion  op  the  System. 

the  deodands. 

The  Deodands. — What  They  Are. — A  Curious  Word. — Gro- 
BLEWsi's  Poison. — Homicidal  Knr^es. — A  Bloody  Bed  Slat. — 
A  Deadly  Hammer. — A  Fatal  Cart  Rung. — An  Historic  Axe. 
— Dark  Lantern  and  Mask.— Pistols  and  Counterfeits. 

the  bureau  of  boiler  inspection. 
When  Organized. — Its  Personnel. — Where  to  Get  Your  Boiler 
Mended. — Why  it  is  Necessary. — William  A.  Powers,  the 
Superintendent.— His  Heroic  Record. — The  Inspectors. — 
The  Superintendnt's  Duties. — Boilers  at  Large. —  En- 
gineers.— The  Four  Degrees  in  their  Freemasonry. — Mis- 
demeanors.— Mr.  Buck  Falls  Up  Against  the  Law  and  Gets 
THE  Worst  of  It.  —  The  Law  a  Beneficial  One. — The 
Jewells'  Flour  Mills  Explosion.— The  Greenpoint  Foundry 
Blown  Up.  —  Public  School  Boilers.  —  As  Innocent  as 
Kittens. 

THE  ambulance  SERVICE. 

A  Modern  Idea  Started  in  1878. — Who  Controls  and  Has 
Custody  of  the  Wagons. — Who  Pays  for  the  Luxury. — The 
Ambulance  Surgeons  all  First-class  Men.  —  How  Ap-'^ 
pointed. — The  Horses. — How  the  Machine  Works. — Rules 
AND  Regulations. — Relations  with  the  Police  — How  they 
Treat  the  Injured, — The  Different  Districts  — The  Kinds 
OF  Patients. — Additions  to  Come. — The  Good  Work  Accom- 
plished  168 


CONTEXTS. 


XV 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Special  Features  op  the  Police  Department— Coutiniied. 

THE  mounted  squad. 

When  and  by  Whom  Established. — The  Thoroughfares  it  Pro- 
tects.—Its  Gallant  Commander  Sergeant  John  H.  Johnson. 
— His  Services. — The  Headquarters. — The  Stables. — The 
Squad. — Its  Duties. — Inefficiency  of  Foot-policemen  to 
Stop  Fast  Driving. — The  Mounted  Squad. — Their  In- 
fluence.— Runaways. — ' '  Fighters." — Panic-stricken  Horses. 
— These  are  a  Minority — Hunting  Robbers. — Wealthy  Resi- 
dences.— Prospect  Heights. — Area  Thieves. — How  they  are 
Chased. — Cross  Country  Work  on  the  Hill. — The  Horses. — 
Their  Intelligence. — Their  Tricks  and  Knowledge. — The 
Record  of  the  Years. 

THE  morgue. 

Where  THE  Dead-house  is  Located. — Keeper  Patrick  Maguire. — 
A  Description  of  the  Place — How  Bodies  are  Preserved. 
— Strange  Cases. — Maguire's  Story. — Trying  to  Obtain  a 
Fortune  by  Falsely  Identifying  a  Corpse. 

THE   sanitary  SQUAD. 

When  Organized. — Its  Causes.— Its  Work.-  Dirty  Italians. — Its 
Re-organization  and  Present  Status. — Small-pox  Cases. — 
Disinfecting  Dives.  —  jMediterranean  Prejudices.  —  Its 
Present  Composition. 

THE  central  office  SQUAD. 

When  it  Started. — Its  Purpose. — Where  to  Find  It. — Sergeant 
M.  T.  HoLBROOK. — His  Heroic  War  Record. — Eventful 
Changes. — The  Officers. — Their  Duties. — Messenger  Boys. 
— Protecting  ^Marines. — The  Salvation  Army. — Invalids 
Wanted. — A  Quiet  Life. — Court  Officers. — Mass  Meetings 
No  Good. — Weddings  and  Balls  Popular.— Arrests  Made 


XVI 


CONTENTS. 


BY  Multitudes. — Judgk  Walsh  Helps  to  Swell  the  List. 

THE  rogue's  GALLEKY. 

Where  it  is  Kept. — What  it  Comprises. — The  Rogue's  Record. 
— Years  of  Crime  Illustrated. — The  Ohio  Assassins. — His- 
torical Homicides. — Distinguished  Artists  in  Larcency. — 
Lizzie  Leonard,  the  Hermaphrodite. — Artful  Mrs.  Peck- 
Pious  Wadsworth. — Repentant  Rogues. — Removal  of  Por- 
traits  193 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Central  Office  Detectives. 

Who  and  What  They  Are. — Their  Duties  and  Dangers. — Pres- 
ent Relations  of  Criminals  and  Detectives. — At  the  Central 
Office. — Detective  Wm.  D.  Strong. — Detective  Michael  F. 
Powers. — Detective  James  H.  Roche. — Policy. — His  Views  on 

POKE-A-MOKE  —DETECTIVE  PATRICK  CaRR. — SENIOR  IN  SERVICE. 

— His  Knowledge  of  Crooks.  —  "Marked  Cards  and  Loaded 
Dice." — Detective  George  V.  Zundt. — Detective  Cornelius 
J.  Mahoney. — Blackmailers. — Ten  Thousand  Dollars  De- 
manded.— Choking  a  Villain. — Detective  John  E.  Lowery. — 
Detective  Edward  Looney.  —  Burglars  and  Burglaries. — 
"  First-class  Workmen." — "  The  Lookout." — Early  Lunches. 
— How  Women  Receive  Burglars. — Detective  John  Roll. — 
Robbing  a  Bank. — The  Clock  Trick   214 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Precincts  and  Station-houses. 

First  Precinct. — Its  Boundaries— "  The  Heights." — Mercan- 
tile Palaces. — "Old"  and  "New"  Quarters. — Captain 
James  Campbell. — A  Quiet  Night. — The  Sergeants. — Ef- 
ficient Officers. — Discouraging  Tramp  Lodgers. — "  Cheap 


^  CONTENTS.  X\ 

Lodgings  " — A  Warm-hearted  Sergeant. — Roundsmen  and 
Detectives. — Second  Precincts.— Its  Boundaries —Danger- 
ous Locality.— "  The  Chain  Gang."— The  Station-house.— 
Noisome  Cells. — Probable  New  Headquarters. — Captain 
John  W.  Edson. — A  Veteran  of  the  War. — Many  Times 
Wounded. — The  Sergeants. — The  "Real  Estate  Gag." — 
Duped  Brokers.— Money  Easily  Pinched  in  the  Neck. — Only 
Vagrancy. — Roundsmen  and  Detectives   2 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Precincts  and  Station-houses  .—Continued. 

Third  Precinct. — Boundaries. — Station-house. — Mean  Thieves. 
—Prevalence  of  "  Drunks.  "—Captain  Patrick  II.  Leavey.— 
A  Book  of  Horrors —"  Billy,  the  Kid." — The  Western 
Code  —A  Deadly  Toy.— An  Uninterrupted  Supper.— No 
Equal  with  the  Gun.— The  Sergeants.  —  The  Roundsmen 
AND  Detectives. 

Fourth  Precinct.— Station-house.— Boundaries.— Captain  Will- 
iam J.  McKelvey. — A  Brave  and  Intelligent  Officer. — 
The  Terror  op  Jackson  Hollow. — Story  of  the  "Black 
Bag." — The  Captain's  War  Record. — His  Connection  with 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. — The  Sergeants. — Story 
OF  A  River  Fight. — The  Roundsmen  and  Detectives  2^ 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Precincts  and  Station-houses.— Continued. 

Fifth  Precinct. — Station-house.  —  Boundaries.  —  Captain  Cor- 
nelius WoGLOi.1.— "  The  Chief  of  Willtamsburgh." — His 
Splendid  Record.— Sergeant  George  Bunce.— A  Veteran.— 
Riots  of  1863. — Other  Sergeants. — Roundsmen  and  Detect- 
ives.— A  Clergyman's  Misplaced  Confidence. 

Sixth  Precinct.— Boundaries.  —  Station-houses.— Features  of 


xvni 


CONTEXTS. 


THE  Pjiecinct.— Captain  William  J.  Kaiser. — Soldier  and 
Policeman  — Quick  Promotion. — A  Countryman's  AVar-cry. 
— A  Demoralized  Officer. — New  Use  for  a  Barrel.— The 
Sergeants. — Detectives  and  Roundsmen. 

Sixth  Sub-precinct.  —  Boundaries.  —  Station-house. — Command- 
ing Sergeant. — Sergeant  Edmund  Brown.— His  War  Record. 
— A  Jeweler  Burglarized. — Chasing  the  Thieves. — Ser- 
geants O'Reilly  and  Corwin. — Both  War  Veterans. — 
Detective  Campbell  — The  Roundsmen  272 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Precincts  and  Station-houses. — Continued. 
Seventh   Precinct.  —  Station-house.  —  Boundaries.  —  Captain 
George  R.  Rhodes. — A  Linguist  and  an  Athlete. — A  School- 
mate OP  Secretary  Bayard. — An  Efficient  Officer.— The 
Sergeants. — The  Roundsmen  — Detective  Donlon, 

Eighth  Precinct.  —  Boundaries.  —  Station-house  —  Captain 
Thomas  Murphy. — A  Splendid  War  Record. — A  Member  of 
the  Grant  Post. — The  Sergeants. — Detectives  and  Rounds- 
men. 

Eighth  Sub-precinct. — Station-house. — Boundaries. — Command- 
ing Sergeant  Kenney. — An  Ordinance. — Boy  During  the 
War. — His  Progress  in  Life. — Thieves  of  Nerve. — The  Ser- 
geants.— Detectives  and  Roundsmen   295 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Precincts  and  Station-houses. — Continued. 

Ninth  Precinct. — Station-house  — A  Model  Building — Bound- 
aries.— Captain  James  Ennis. — Raiding  a  Gambling  Den. — 
Sergeant  Rogers. — A  War  Veteran. — Sergeants  Dattey, 
Wilson  and  Stacom  — The    Roundsmen  and  Detectives. 


^  CONTEXTS.  XIX 

Tenth  Precinct. — Station-house. — Mounted  Squad  Quarters. — 
Boundaries. — Captain  Henry  L.  Jewett. — A  Gentleman  and 
A  Scholar.— His  Wonderful  Dog  Minnie.— Sergeant  Johnson. 
— Sergeants  Metcalf  and  Moro.— Two  War  Veterans. — 
Sergeants  Harold  and  Lamb  — Roundsmen  and  Detectives. 
— Gamblers'  Superstition  -   319 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 

Precincts  and  Station-houses. — Continued. 

Eleventh  Precinct.  — Station-house.  — Boundaries. — Captain 
Daniel  J.  Lowery. — His  Police  Record. — A  Civil  Service 
Graduate. — Sergeants  Slattery  and  White.  —  Sergeant 
Evans. — A  Type  of  the  Soldier. — Sergeant  Gill. — Life  in  a 
Police  Station  — Practical  Jokes. — Roundsmen  and  De- 
tectives. 

Twelfth  Precinct.  —  Station-house.  —  Boundaries.  —  Captain 
William  H.  Folk.— An  Able  Detective. — How"  He  Cap- 
tured A  Thief. — Sergeant  Gans. — Once  a  Drummer  Boy. — 
A  Fight  for  Life. — Sergeant  Sheridan. — Sergeant  Nelson. 
— Another  Drummer  Boy. — Sergeant  Gregory. — Roundsmen 
AND  Detectives.  335 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Precincts  and  Station-houses. — Continued. 

Thirteenth  Precinct.  —  Boundaries.  —  General  Character. — 
Station-house. — Captain  Thomas  L.  Durham. — His  Record 
on  the  Force. — Sergeant  Ashton. — A  Volunteer  Soldier. — 
Sergeants  Babcock,  Gorman  and  Smith. — Detectives  and 
Roundsmen. 

Fourteenth  Precinct.  —  Station-house.  —  Boundaries.—  Ever- 
green Cemetery.— His  Police  C.\reer.— Patchen  Avenue 


XX       .  CONTEXTS. 

BuiiGLARS.— The  Captain's  Popularity.—Citizens'  Testi- 
monial. —  The  Buck-Billy  Goat.  —  Sergeants  Budd  and 
DoNAGHY. —  Sergeant  Buckholz. — A  War  Veteran.— Ser- 
geant Nicholson.— The  Roundsmen. — Detective  Anderson.  . .  353 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Precincts  and  Station-houses. — Concluded. 

Fifteenth  Precinct — Station-house. -"Smoky  Hollow." — Boun- 
daries.— "  House  of  Blazes." — "Island  Number  Ten." — 
"The  Apple  Orchard."—"  The  Buckingham."— Captain  Henry 
Kellett. — War  Record. — Police  Record. — Sergeant  Mc- 
CuLLOUGH.  —  Murder  of  Officer  Stone.  —  Henry  Ward 
Beecher's  Lecture. — Sergeant  Lowe. — An  Old  Artillery- 
man. —  Sergeants  Shields  and  Cullen.  —  Detectives  and 
Roundsmen. 

Sixteenth  Precinct.  —  Station-house.  — Boundaries.  —  Captain 
John  Brennan. — His  Police  JiiFE. — Sergeant  Simmons.— Ser- 
geant Hamilton. — His  Army  Experience  — Sergeants  Har- 
rington AND  Barr.  —  The  Roundsmen  and  Detectives  — 
Diamond  Cut  Diamond. 

Seventeenth  Precinct. — Brief  Sketch  of  the  Police  System  of 
New  Lots  Before  its  Annexation  to  Brooklyn.  —  Captain 
Henry  French.  —  His  Troubles  with  Ambitious  Youths.— 
The  Sergeants. — Detectives  and  Roundsmen  366 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Brooklyn's  Harbor  Police. 

The  "Judge  Moore." — Its  Description. — Where  to  Find  It. — 
Where  it  Goes  and  When.— Its  Captains  and  Crews.— Its 
Duties  and  Its  Record. — River  Thieves,  Their  Habits  and 
Tricks. — A  Model  Dive. — The  Old  Charters  of  Dongan  and 


CONTENTS. 


XXI 


CoRNBURY. — Private  Piers.— River  Pirates  —Their  Strug- 
gle with  THE  Police — Giving  False  Alarms  to  their  Enemy. 
—Dutch  Frank,  the  Pirate  King.— Stealing  a  Hawser 
Under  the  Captain's  Nose. — Chased  and  Collared  on  Gov- 
ernor's Island  by  Officer  Casey. — Who  Stole  the  Rope. — 
Ted  Perry,  the  Speculator." — Stealing  a  Canal  Boat 
AND  Its  Cargo  op  Wheat. — The  Police  too  Active  for  Them. 
— Disappearance  of  a  Truck  and  Its  Load  of  Sugar. — 
Officer  McMahon  Spoils  a  New  and  Ingenious  Scheme  at 
the  Erie  Basin. — The  End  of  the  Silver  Gang. — The  Com- 
bination Gang  of  Brooklyn  and  Staten  Island. — Sergeant 
Easin's  Gallant  Capture. — Officer  McMahon  Has  a  Long 
Chase. — Final  Failure  of  Justice. — The  Smoky  Hollow 
Gang. — A  Thief  Makes  a  Bold  Break  for  Liberty. — Sugar 
Stealing. — Thousands  Wasted  Wantonly  389 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Raymond  Street  Jail. 

Fort  Greene. — Its  Edge  of  Buildings. — The  Lock-up  in  1830.— 
The  New  Jail  of  1836.— The  Old  Court-house  Made  a  Jail.— 
The  New  Jail  of  1879. — Its  Appearance  and  Entrances. — 
The  Main  Hall  and  Office. — The  Interior. — How  it  Looks 
and  How  it  is. — The  Black  Marias. — The  Women's  Ward 
AND  its  Interior. — Warden  Martin  Burroughs  and  His 
Staff.  —  Keeper  Shevlin.  —  Engineer  Thomas  —  Druv^ers 
Evans  and  Cassidy.— Their  Courage  — The  Warden's  Duties 
AND  Responsibilities.— Capacity  of  the  Jail. —Civil  Pris- 
oners— Their  Hard  Time. — A  House  of  Detention  W-\nted. 
—Discipline  of  the  Prisoners.— Their  Tasks  and  Daily 
Life. — Visiting  Days  Aifit  Visitors. — What  They  Say  and  Do. 
— Inglis,  the  Suspected. — Unpopularity  of  Female  Prison- 
ers.— Prison  Fare  Not  Hotel  Fare. — Fuchs,  the  ]\[urderer. 


XXII     '  CONTEXTS. 

— How  Prisoners  Behave. — Old  Offenders.— Odd  Recrea- 
tions.— Police  Kindness.— Incorrigibility  of  "  Revolvers" 
AND  "  Rounders"— No  Romances  in  Jail  History  405 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

The  Penitentiary, 

The  Bastile  of  Brooklyn. — Its  Appearance  and  Beauty. — Its 
Entrance  Like  Dante's  Inferno.— The  Interior.— The  Cells 
AND  THE  Oubliettes. — The  Dreary  Courtyard. — The  Female 
Prison. — Bits  of  Beauty. — Decorating  the  Cells  of  the 
Unfortunates. — The  Three  Matrons. — Kate  Manning,  the 
Beautiful  House-thief.— Mrs.  Melville,  the  Would-be 
Child-murderer. — Ella  Larrabee,  the  Female  Burglar. — 
Punishment.— Discipline. — Warden  Green's  Splendid  Ser- 
vices 420 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Police  Courts  and  Justices. 

The  City  Police  Court.— A  Handsome  Structure.— Justice 
Andrew  Walsh. — First  District  Court. — Its  Extent. — Jus- 
tice Massey. — Second  District  Court. — Justice  Kenna. — His 
Career. — Third  District  Court. — Justice  Naeher  and  His 
"Crank"  Callers  431 


OHAPTER  XXV. 
The  CviuRT  of  Sessions. 

Judge  Moore.— His  Early  Lifl.— Admitted  to  the  Bar. — Recog- 
nition of  Merit. — He  is  Elected  Assistant  District  At- 
torney.— The  Right  Man  in  the  Right  Place.— Made  Judge 
of  the  County  Court. — His  Marriage.— A  Fitting  Tribute. — 


CONTENTS. 


XXIIl 


An    Honest,  Upkight,    Just   and    ]Mekciful  Judge.— How 
Yakious  Grades  of  Chimin als  aise  Dealt  With   440 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
Police  and  Excise  Trials. 

The  Commissioner's  Authority.— The  Wise  Robbery.— "Bouncing 
A  Fighting  Drunk." — Malicious  Complaints. — A  ^Mounted 
Squadman  with  a  Poor  Memory. — Drunk  in  a  Cellar — Con- 
duct Unbecoming  an  Officer  — How  Tradesmen  Use  the 

COM^IISSIONER  AS  A  COLLECTION  AgENCY.  —  A  UsURER  BeaTEN 

at  His  Own  Game. — Excise  Trials. — Conduct  of  Trial. — 
Liquor  Dealers  and  Lawyers. — History  of  Excise  Legis- 
lation.— The  Oldest  Excise  Law  in  America. — Hotels  Must 
Serve  Drinks. — Schenck  Beer  and  Lager  Beer. — The  Dif- 
ferent Offences  of  Saloon  Keepers. — Perjurers'  Paradise. 
— A  Typical  Case  of  Lying. — Conviction. — Revocation. — Ap- 
peal and  Review. — The  Law's  Delay   448 

CHAPTER  XX Vn. 

The  Newspapers  and  Police  Reporters  of  Brooklyn. 

What  They  Are. — The  Eagle's  War  on  Gambling  Dens  and 
Disorderly  Houses. — An  Expensive  Lesson  to  a  Rich  Gam- 
bler. —  The  Standard's  Attack  Upon  Pool-sellers. — The 
Argus  Versus  the  Brooklyn  Ring. — The  Times  and  the 
County  Institutions. — The  Police  Reporters.— Where  they 
Congregate — The  Detectives'  Room. — "Associatp:d  Press" 
Work. — Beats. — A  Tale  of  an  Execution  and  a  Reporter. — 
A  Newspaper  Man  that  Could  Telegraph —Relations  of 
Press  and  Police.  —  Arrests.  —  The  Blotter.  —  Libel. — 
Morality  of  Police   465 


XXIV 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Brooklyn's  Criminal  Lawyers, 

Relations  of  Lawyers  and  Police. — Prominent  Barristers. — 
Francis  A.  McCloskey  —A  Help  to  Justice. — Tricks  Whereby 
THE  Guilty  Escape.— How  Billy  Leete  was  Acquitted  at  Ses- 
sions.— The  Way  a  Boarding-house  Fiend  Works. — An  Irate 
Landlady. — Coney  Island  Gamblers  Deceive  Anthony  Com- 
STOCK. — Detective  Lowery's  Story  of  a  Beautiful  Black- 
mailer.— The  Method  of  an  Ingenious  Adventuress. — Tran- 
sparent Envelopes.  —  A  Woman  and  a  Lawyer  Outwit 
Justice. — Exposure  a  Good  Card  Against  a  Complainant  — 
The  Political  Machine  as  a  Legal  Remedy. — The  Beecher- 
TiLTON  Trial  — The  Prosecution  of  Commissioners  Flaherty 
and  Bennett. — Police  Court  Juries.— Excise  Trials  a  Farce. 
— Beer  Not  Intoxicating. — The  New  York  Life  Insurance 
$70,000  Forgery.  —  District  Attorney  Ridgway's  Famous 
Trick.  —  Criminal  Lawyers  Poorly  Paid. — Shysters  and 
Pettifoggers. — Their  Poverty  and  Misery. — Criminal  Law- 
yers in  Politics  and  in  Office   

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
The  Police  Pension  Fund  and  Other  Matters. 

Origin  of  the  Fund. — Appointment  of  Officers. — Their  Pow- 
ers.—Rules  AND  Regulations. — Trustees  to  Serve  Without 
Pay. — The  Sources  from  which  the  Fund  is  Drawn. — Who 
are  Entitled  to  Receive  Pensions. — Provisions  for  the 
Widows  and  Orphans.  —  For  Disabled  Members  of  the 
Force. — The  Retired  List.— Condition  of  the  Fund  at  the 
Present  Time. — The  Dog  Tax  and  How  It  Swells  the  Pen- 
sion Fund  — Police  Matrons.— Lost  Children  — Civil  Ser- 
vice Reform. — The  Annuat-  Parade.— Conclusion  ^ 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 


FRONTISPIECE,  "GUARDING  THE  HOME"  

THE  PILLORY  AND  WHIPPING-POST   7 

THE  DUCKING-STOOL   8 

JOHN  S.  FOLK   36 

MAYOR  DANIEL  D.  WHITNEY   84 

POLICE  COMMISSIONER  THOMAS  CARROLL   Ill 

SUPERINTENDENT  PATRICK  CAMPBELL   119 

EXCISE  COMMISSIONER  JOHN  CUNNINGHAM   127 

EXCISE  COMMISSIONER  JOHN  SCHLIEMANN  131 

DEPUTY  POLICE  COMMISSIONER  FRANCIS  L.  DALLON. ...  135 

INSPECTOR  JOHN  MACKELLAR   139 

INSPECTOR  EDWARD  REILLY   147 

INSPECTOR  PATRICK  H.  McLAUGHLIN   151 

FREDERICK  L.  JENKINS....    157 

WILLIAM  H.  MULDOON   161 

THOMAS  CARROLL,  JR   165 

BANK  BURGLARS'  OUTFIT   181 

SERGEANT  JOHN  H.  JOHNSON  195 

SERGEANT  MELLON  T.  HOLBROOK   206 

CAPTAIN  JAMES  CAMPBELL   235 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  W.  EASON.  243 

CAPTAIN  PATRICK  H.  LEAVEY   253 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  J.  McKELVEY   261 

CAPTAIN  CORNELIUS  WOGLOM   275 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  J.  KAISER   283 


XXVI    '  LI^T  OF  3LLUSTKATIONS. 

SERGEANT  EDMUND  BROWN   289 

CAPTAIN  GEORGE  R.  RHODES  297 

CAPTAIN  THOMAS  MURPHY   305 

CAPTAIN  JAMES  KENNEY   315 

CAPTAIN  JAMES  ENNIS   323 

CAPTAIN  HENRY  L.  JEWETT  ...329 

CAPTAIN  DANIEL  J.  LOWERY  337 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  H.  FOLK..   347 

CAPTAIN  THOMAS  L.  DRUHAN   355 

CAPTAIN  JAMES  DUNN  361 

CAPTAIN  HENRY  KELLETT   371 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  BRENNAN   377 

CAPTAIN  HENRY  FRENCH   385 

POLICE  AND  RIVER  PIRATES  395 

FRANCIS  A.  McCLOSKEY  483 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS: 


A  Record  of  the  Faithful  and  Heroic  Men  who  Preserve  the  Peace 

IN  THE 

CITY  OF  HOMES. 

CHAPTER  I. 
^^Breuckelen's"  Earliest  Guardians. 

From  1636  to  1785. 

Settlement  of  Gowanus  (1636).— The  Indian  Uprising  op  1643.— 
Founding  of  the  Hamlet,  "  The  Ferry." — "  Breuckelen"  Estab- 
lished AND  SCHEPENS  APPOINTED   (1646). — DUTIES  OF  THE  SCHOUT 

AND  Constables. — Troubles  with  "Sound  Robbers." — Town- 
Guards  Organized. — The  Minute  Men. — The  Municipal  Powers 
OF  Breuckelen  Enlarged.— Extraordinary  Duties  of  the  Vil- 
lage Schoolmaster.  — Governor  Nicolls'  Patent  to  the  Inhabit- 
ants OF  Breuckelen  (1667).  — First  Court  Held  in  Kings 
County  (1669).— Odd  Court  Records.— Beer  and  Bravery:  Try- 
ing Ordeal  of  a  Citizen-Soldier.— The  Predicament  of  a 
"  Strange  Man." — Court-House  and  Jail  Erected  at  Flatbush 
(1686).— First  Public-House  in  "Breuckelen"  Licensed  (1668).— 
The  Sheriff  and  Magistrate  as  Conservators  of  the  Peace. — 
Stocks  and  a  Pound  Ordered  by  the  Court. — Instructions  to 
Constables. — An  Illiterate  Officer. — The  Dutch  Settlers  and 
the  War  op  the  Revolution. — Depredations  by  the  Whale- 
boat  Men.— The  "Town-House"  at  Bushwick.— Punishment  of 
a  Lampooner.— Justice  and  Holland  Rum  Dispensed  Lender 
One  Roof. 

0  TRACE  intelligently  the  growth  of  the  poHce  sys- 
tem of  the  city  of  Brooklyn  from  its  very  inception 
it  will  be  necessary  to  revert  to  the  earliest  settlement  on 
the  gromid  which  has  since  become  the  site  of  the  third 
city  in  the  Union,  and  follow  its  progress  from  the  days 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


of  the  Walloon  settlers — who  came  to  America  in  1625, 
and  some  of  whom  took  up  lands  on  the  western  end  of 
Long  Island, — down  to  the  present  day.  It  must  follow 
the  primitive  plans  and  systems  for  citizen  protection  in- 
troduced hy  the  early  Dutch  settlers,  the  watch  as  ap- 
pointed for  night  service,  the  Schepens  or  magistrates 
and  the  constables  subject  to  their  orders,  appointed  by 
the  governors  ;  the  growth  of  the  village  and  its  conse- 
quent more  extended  and  better  regulated  policing,  to 
the  organized  and  equipped  force  of  the  city  in  the  early 
days  of  its  incorporation,  and  then  should  follow  the 
narration  of  how  the  department  has  been  brought  to  its 
present  state  of  perfection  in  discipline  and  effectiveness. 

New  York  had  been  discovered  and  occupied  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  what  must  be  con- 
sidered the  first  step  toward  the  settlement  of  the  city  of 
Brooklyn  was  made.  In  June,  1636,  Jacob  Van  Cor- 
laer,  a  civil  officer  under  Director  Wouter  Van  Twiller 
in  New  Amsterdam,  purchased  from  the  Indians,  a 
flat  of  land  called  ^  Castateeuw'  on  Long  Island,  between 
the  bay  of  the  North  Eiver  and  the  East  River. "  The 
record  of  this  transaction  is  the  earliest  one  of  any  grant 
to  an  individual  in  the  present  county  of  Kings.  Andries 
Hudde  and  Wolfert  Gerritsen  followed  Van  Corlear  and 
took  the  two  tracts  adjoining  him  on  the  west,  and 
Director  Van  Twiller  took  up  the  ground  adjoining 
on  the  east.  William  Adriaense  Bennet  and  Jacques 
Bentyn  were  the  next  to  settle  upon  the  beautiful 
and  fertile  lands.  They  took  up  nine  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  at  Gowanus.  Upon  this  land  a  house 
was  built  at  some  time  previous  to  the  Indian  uprisings 
between  1642  and  1645.    This  house  was  the  nucleus  of 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


3 


the  pioneer  settlement  of  Gowanus,  a  section  of  Brook- 
lyn known  to  this  day  by  its  original  Indian  name.  The 
purchase  and  occupation  of  a  tract  on  Wallabout  Bay, 
by  George  De  Rapalje,  was  the  second  step.  These  two 
spots,  comparatively  distant  from  each  other,  offering  to 
the  settlers  similar  agricultural  advantages,  were  the 
small  beginnings  from  which  grew  the  mighty  result 
which  we  see  in  the  present  great  city  of  Brooklyn,  with 
its  vast  industrial  and  commercial  interests,  its  high  posi- 
tion among  the  cities  of  the  world  and  its  wonderful 
extent  of  territory.  It  must  be  considered,  however,  that 
the  mere  circumstance  that  one  or  even  a  few  scattered 
families  fixed  themselves  upon  a  tract  of  land  that  is 
now  included  in  this  city  is  hardly  of  sufficient  con- 
sequence to  fix  the  time  of  their  doing  so  as  the  date 
of  the  origin  of  the  city,  because  there  is  no  evidence  that 
they  ever  assumed  or  received  the  power  of  municipal 
jurisdiction  until  164:6.  It  is  evident  that  the  settlement 
of  the  town  was  made  in  the  same  desultory  manner  as 
the  adjoining  towns,  and  there  seems  to  hav-e  been  no 
effort  upon  the  part  of  the  first  settlers  toward  any  thing- 
like  municipal  regulations,  and  to  this  fact  is  assigned 
the  reason  that  there  are  no  records  extant  of  early  gen- 
eral patents  issued  by  the  Dutch  Government.  When  a 
man  found  a  piece  of  ground  that  suited  him,  he 
simply  took  possession  of  it  under  an  individual  grant  or 
brief  from  the  governor,  and  gave  no  concern  as  to  what 
manner  of  man  might  become  his  neighbor.  Therein  is 
found  the  reason  for  the  delay  in  the  establishment  of 
anything  like  town  organization. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  163S,  William  Kieft,  who  had 
succeeded  Wouter  Van  Twiller  as  director  of  the  Dutch 


4 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


East  India  Company,  obtained  by  purchase  from  the 
Indians,  a  tract  of  land  adjoining  Rapalje's  which  covered 
all  of  the  present  Eastern  District  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn. 
Various  individual  patents  gave  large  tracts  of  land 
which  now  lie  within  the  heart  of  the  busy  city  to  Fred- 
erick Lubbertsen,  Abraham  Rycken,  Lambert  Huybert- 
son,  Hans  Hansen  Bergen,  Jan  and  Pieter  Montfoort, 
Pieter  Caesar,  'Hhe  Italian,"  and  others.  By  May  10, 
1640,  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  had  acquired  by 
purchase  from  the  Indians  all  the  portion  of  Long  Island 
now  included  in  Kings  and  Queens  counties. 

The  formation  of  the  new  Charter  of  Freedoms  and 
Exemptions,"  approved  and  promulgated  July  19,  1640, 
by  which  "all  good  inhabitants  of  the  Netherlands" 
were  then  allowed  to  select  lands  and  form  colonies,  re- 
sulted in  a  rapid  growth  for  the  young  settlement  oppo- 
site Manhattan  (New  York),  and  along  the  East  River 
shore  the  farms  of  Claes  Cornelissen  Van  Schouw  (Men- 
telaer),  Jan  Manje,  Andries  Hudde,  Jacob  Wolphertsen 
(Van  Couwenhoven),  and  others,  stretched  with  their 
wealth  of  corn  and  other  products. 

The  year  1643  was  to  the  New  Netherlands  "a  year  of 
blood,"  and  the  young  settlement  on  Long  Island  did 
not  escape  the  anxieties,  terrors  and  devastations  of  the 
Indian  uprising  which  resulted  from  Kieft's  treachery  to 
the  aborigines.  At  the  end  of  the  war,  in  the  summer 
of  1645,  the  western  end  of  Long  Island,  upon  which  was 
located  Brooklyn  and  its  sister  hamlets,  was  almost 
depopulated . 

A  public  ferry,  which  had  been  permanently  estab- 
hshed  between  Manhattan  (young  New  York)  and  Long 
Island  before  the  Indian  war,  and  which  had  for  its 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


5 


landing  place  on  the  Brooklyn  side  the  place  of  the  pres- 
ent Fulton  Ferry,  formed  the  nucleus  for  a  little  hamlet 
known  as  ''The  Ferry,"  and  the  two  small  hamlets 
which  had  grown  up  at  the  other  centres  of  settlement 
were  known  as  "  The  Gowanus''  and  "  The  Waal-bogt " 
(Wallabout).  As  soon  as  the  Indian  troubles  were  over, 
the  "maize  lands,"  lying  on  Gowanus  Creek,  between 
"  i'he  Ferry"  and  "The  Gowanus,"  were  taken  posses- 
sion of  by  Jan  Evertsen  Bout,  Huyck  Aertsen  (Van 
Eossum),  Jacob  Stoffelsen,  Pieter  Cornehssen,  Joris 
Dircksen  and  Gerrit  Wolphertsen  van  ^  Couwenhoven 
and  others,  who  established  themselves  on  either  side 
of  the  road  that  led  from  Flatbush  to  "  The  Ferry." 
The  village  which  was  formed  by  these  settlers  was 
located  on  the  present  Fulton  Avenue,  not  far  from 
and  south-east  of  the  site  of  the  present  City  Hall,  and 
was  called  Breuckelen,  after  the  ancient  village  of  the 
same  name  in  Holland. 

Its  founders  were  the  first  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
advantages  of  town  organization.  At  their  expressed 
wish  and  intention  to  "  found  a  town  at  their  own  ex- 
pense," they  -were  commissioned  to  do  so  by  a  brief 
issued  in  June,  1046,  by  the  Colonial  Council,  appointing 
Jan  Evertsen  and  Huyck  Aertsen  as  "Schepens"  or 
magistrates.  The  council  was  determined  that  these 
two  "Schepens"  should  have  the  obedience  and  respect 
of  the  colonists,  and  they  fixed  as  the  penalty  for  non- 
submission  to  their  decisions  forfeiture  of  any  land 
claims  in  the  allotment  of  Breuckelen.  The  appointees 
had  the  privilege  of  selecting  two  more  magistrates  to 
help  them  should  they  find  their  duties  too  onerous.  The 
brief  concludes 


6 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


"We  charge  and  command  every  inhabitant  of  Breuckelen  to 
acknowledge  and  respect  the  above  mentioned  Jan  Evertsen  and 
Huyck  Aertsen  as  their  Schepens,  and  if  any  one  shall  be  found 
to  exhibit  contumaciousness  towards  them,  he  shall  forfeit  his 
share  as  above  stated." 

The  Schepens  found  that  they  had  more  duties  than 
they  could  attend  to  if  they  were  expected  to  act  as  con- 
stables as  well  as  magistrates,  and  in  the  following  win- 
ter they  appointed  Jan  Teunissen  to  act  as  schout  or  con- 
stable, whose  duties  were  to  imprison  delinquents  by 
advice  of  the  Schepens,  to  establish  the  pound,  to  im- 
pound cattle,  to  collect  fines,  and  to  perform  all  things 
that  a  trusty  schout  was  bound  to  perform.  All  who 
were  included  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Breuckelen  were 
commanded  and  charged  to  acknowledge  the  authority 
of  Jan  Teunissen  as  schout. 

Judge  Gabriel  Furman,  in  his  Notes  of  Brooklyn," 
says  : 

"  For  the  first  two  or  three  years  under  the  English  govern- 
ment the  magistrates  of  this  town  were  but  temporary  officers. 
Nearly  all  we  know  about  the  government  previous  to  1669  is 
that  town  courts  were  established  in  the  colony.  The  inference 
would  be  that,  as  this  town  was  granted  all  the  rights  and  privi- 
leges belonging  to  a  town  within  the  government,  a  town  court 
was  also  organized  here." 

The  duties  of  the  constable,  as  defined  in  the  Duke  of 
York's  laws,  were :  Holding  courts  with  the  overseers, 
and  with  them  making  assessments,  etc.,  whipping -or 
punishing  offenders,  raising  the  hue  and  cry  after  ' '  mur- 
derers, manslayers,  thieves,  burglarers  :  also  to  appre- 
hend without  warrant  such  as  were  overtaken  with 
drink,  swearing,  Sabbath  breaking,   vagrant  persons, 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


7 


or  night  walkers."  One  of  the  prescribed  duties  of 
the  constables  was  whipping.  They  wei'e  not  allowed 
to  take  prisoners  except  when  the  delinquents  were 
caught  in  the  act,  or  when  their  information  was  re- 
ceived from  reliable  authority.  It  was  their  duty  also  to 
see  that  the  Sabbath  day's  calm  was  not  disturbed  by 


THE  PILLORY  AND  WHIPPING-POST. 


drunken  brawlers,  and  they  exercised  a  close  surveillance 
over  the  tap-houses  to  enforce  their  closing  on  that  day. 

At  times  they  were  also  called  upon  to  inflict  the  grotes- 
que, though  painful,  punishment  of  the  "Ducking  Stool." 
Women  alone  underwent  this  torture,  which  was  the 
penalty  imposed  upon  a  female  judicially  found  to  be'a 
common  scold.  The  culprit  was  bound  to  a  chair  and 
dipped  in  the  water.    This  was  supposed  to  have  a  cool- 


8 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


ing  effect  upon  feminine  temper,  but  liistory  does  not 
record  that  its  virtues  were  of  great  efficacy. 

The  history  of  the  httle  toAvn  from  the  time  of  its  tak- 
ing upon  itself  municipal  regulations  up  to  the  conquest 
by  the  English  of  the  New  Netherlands  is  an  uneventful 
story  of  slow  growth,  and  it  was  during  that  period  held 


THE  DUCKING-STOOL. 


as  of  little  importance.  Its  representatives  participated 
in  the  several  conventions  called  to  remonstrate  against 
the  unjust  discriminations  of  the  new  governor,  Peter 
Stuy vesant,  against  the  Long  Island  towns.  When  their 
peace  and  security  were  threatened  by  bands  of  marau- 
ders, classed  as  '^robbers  and  pirates,"  and  it  became 
necessary  to  unite  in  common  defence  against  them, 
Breuckelen,  The  Ferry,  and  the  Walloon  (piarter  to- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


9 


gether  contributed  a  complement  of  four  men  to  the 
company  raised  in  165^1:  in  response  to  the  call  of  the 
magistrates. 

About  this  time  there  was  evident  necessity  for  con- 
certed action  on  the  part  of  the  several  towns  on  this  end 
of  Long  Island  against  other  dangers  from  without  as 
well  as  from  the  Sound  robbers,  and  letters  were  ad- 
dressed to  Breuckelen,  Amersf oort  and  Midwout,  asking 
them  to  lend  their  aid  at  this  critical  juncture,  to  fur- 
ther whatever  may  advance  the  public  defence."  In 
consequence,  on  April  T,  165-1,  the  magistrates  of  these 
three  towns,  in  conjunction  with  tiie  court  martial, 
made  regulations  for  the  organization  of  a  town  guard. 
Every  male  was  required  to  do  guard  duty  in  his  turn. 
It  was  provided  that  every  inhabitant,  of  whatever 
station  and  condition,  was  to  unite  in  a  general  resist- 
ance "  in  case  of  an  invasion,  and  a  heavy  fine  was  laid 
upon  those  who  refused  to  join  in  such  resistance.  Every 
third  man  was  detailed  as  a  minute  man,  who  was 
bound  to  respond  to  a  warning    at  a  moment's  notice." 

If  one  of  these  guards  discovered  an  enemy  he  warned 
the  town  by  firing  his  gun  three  times.  His  neighbor 
took  up  the  signal  and  repeated  it  by  firing  three  times, 
and  so  the  signal  was  transmitted  until  the  entire  town 
was  aroused.  To  guard  against  false  alarms  by  which 
the  inhabitants  might  be  unnecessarily  thrown  into  a 
state  of  terror,  the  firing  of  guns  at  night  was  prohibited, 
except  as  signals,  and  penalties  were  attached  to  the  vio- 
lation of  the  order.  In  this  semi-military  organization 
we  see  the  first  attempt  at  a  night  guard  or  watch  for 
the  town. 

The  municipal  privileges  of  Breuckelen,  together  with 


10 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


those  of  Amersfoort  and  Midwout,  were  enlarged  by 
Peter  Stuyvesant  after  the  estabhshment  of  peace  be- 
tween England  and  Holland.  He  gave  to  each  of  those 
towns  two  new  Schepens  or  magistrates  ;  and  David 
Provoost  was  made  Breuckelen's  first  separate  schout  or 
constable.  To  the  District  Court,  which  was  organized 
at  that  time,  was  attached  the  authority  of  regulating 
the  roads,  building  churches,  establishing  schools  and 
enacting  local  laws.  The  number  of  schepens  was,  how- 
ever, still  insufficient  for  the  needs  of  the  town,  and  on 
April  8,  1655,  in  response  to  a  petition  from  the  magis- 
trates of  Breuckelen,  the  Council  appointed  three  addi- 
tional schepens,  namely,  Frederick  Lubbertsen,  Albert 
Cornelissen  and  Jacob  Dircksen,  and  Joris  Papal je  was 
appointed  in  the  place  of  Peter  Cornelissen,  whose  term 
had  expired.  David  Provoost,  the  schout  who  was  also 
performing  the  duties  of  secretary,  thought  his  pay  was 
too  small  considering  the  onerous  duties  of  the  office. 
He  told  the  Council,  in  a  petition  to  that  body,  that  he 
ought  to  have  the  same  salary  as  Secretary  Kip,  of  New 
Amsterdam.  A  system  of  fees  was  established  which 
satisfied  him.  Schout  Provoost  died  in  January,  1656, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  Peter  Tonnerman,  who  was  in 
turn  succeeded  by  Adrien  Hegeman.  Hegeman  enjoyed 
the  munificent  salary  of  two  hundred  guilders  per  annum, 
with  half  the  civil  fines  imposed  by  the  courts,  one-third 
of  the  criminal  fines  levied  by  the  towns,  in  addition^  to 
which  certain  clerk's  fees  and  perquisites  fell  into  his 
capacious  Dutch  pocket. 

It  was  a  memorable  event  in  the  town  of  Breuckelen 
when,  in  1661,  Carel  de  Beauvois  was  engaged  as  school- 
master.   His  appointment  deserves  mention,  because  in 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


11 


addition  to  his  pedagogical  duties  he  was  also  court  mes- 
senger for  the  schepens'  chamber,  and  was  employed 
in  the  village  of  Breuckelen,  and  all  around  where  he  may 
be  needed."  He  performed  the  services  of  grave-digger, 
bell-ringer,  chorister  and  parisli  clerk,  besides  directing 
the  education  of  the  children  of  the  early  Brooklynites. 

In  1661,  Boswyck,  having  attained  the  dignity  of  a 
town  by  the  organization  of  a  town  court  and  the  ap- 
pointment of  magistrates  to  govern  its  twenty-three 
families,  it,  with  New  Utrecht,  was  annexed  to  the  jur- 
isdiction of  Schout  Hegeman,  who  at  this  period  began 
to  be  called  sheriff  of  Breuckelen,  Amersfoort  and  Mid- 
wout,  and  the  district  was  known  as  the  Five  Dutch 
Towns. " 

When  the  English  took  possession  of  New  Amsterdam 
and  changed  its  name  to  New  York,  a  new  code  of  laws 
for  the  Long  Island  towns  was  formed  and  promulgated 
by  an  assembly  made  up  of  delegates  from  the  different 
towns.  Frederick  Lubbertsen  and  Jan  Evertsen  Bout 
were  the  Breuckelen  delegates  to  the  assembly.  The 
code  then  adopted  and  promulgated  was  in  operation 
until  the  first  provincial  assembly  was  convened  by  Gov- 
ernor Dongan  in  16 S3. 

At  the  convention  of  1665,  Long  Island  and  Staten 
Island  were  erected  to  a  shire,  and  was  called  Yorkshire, 
which  was  divided  into  districts  called  ridings.  Breu- 
ckelen was  in  the  East  Eiding.  In  1667  a  full  and  am- 
ple patent  was  granted  to  the  inhabitants  of  Breuckelen, 
by  Governor  Nicolls,  confirming  them  in  the  rights  which 
they  had  acquired  by  individual  patent  from  the  Dutch 
governors  and  by  purchase  from  the  Indians. 

The  first  official  record  of  any  court  being  held  in 


V2 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Kings  County  is  that  of  a  session  held  at  Gravesend, 
June  16,  1609,  but  there  are  several  references  to  cases 
and  orders  of  court  previous  to  that  time.  There  was 
issued  by  Governor  Nicolls,  on  October  18,  1667,  an  or- 
der for  a  rate  to  be  levied  upon  the  town  of  Breuckelen, 
and  the  other  towns  of  the  West  Riding,  for  the  erection 
of  a  "Sessions  House."  In  confirmation  of  the  opinion 
that  there  was  a  court  held  in  Breuckelen  previous  to 
1669,  the  case  of  "  Adam  Brouwer,  of  Breuckelen,  mil- 
ler," is  referred  to.  It  appears  that  the  miller  refused 
to  grind  corn  for  some  of  the  inhabitants  "  on  frivolous 
pretences,"  and  the  inhabitants,  constables  and  over- 
seers made  complaint  against  him  ;  and  he  ' '  being 
apparently  forgetful  of  former  court  action  on  a  simi- 
lar charge,"  was  warned  on  November  12,  1668,  by  Gov- 
ernor Lovlace,  that  as  long  as  he  kept  the  mill  he  must, 
under  penalty,  ' '  grind  for  all  persons  without  distinc- 
tion or  exception,  according  to  custom,  the  first  to  '^ome 
to  be  served  first. " 

The  record  of  the  first  court  held  at  Gravesend,  June 
16,  1669,  reads  : 

"  At  a  court  of  sessions  held  at  Gravesend,  the  16th  day  of 
June,  by  his  Majesty's  authority,  in  the  twenty-first  year  of  the 
reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord,  Charles  the  Second,  by  the  Grace 
of  God,  of  Great  Brittaine,  France  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender 
of  the  ffaith,  etc.,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1669,  Present,  Mat- 
thias Nicoll,  Esquire,  secretary,  president. 


Mr.  Cornelius  Van  Euyven, 
Captain  John  Manning, 
Mr.  James  Hubbard, 
Mr.  Richard  Betts. 


Justices. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


18 


111  the  same  record  is  the  following  entry  : 

Whereas  during  this- court  of  sessions,  there  hath  been  sev- 
eral misdemeanors  committed  in  contempt  of  authority  in  this 
town  of  Gravesend,  by  one  throwing  down  the  stocks,  pulling 
off  ftences,  and  such  like  crimes  ;  the  court  also  find  that  there 
was  no  watch  in  the  town,  which  might  have  prevented  it ;  and 
being  the  offenders  cannot  be  discovered,  it  is  ordered  that  the 
town  stand  fined  in  five  pounds  until  they  have  made  the  discov- 
ery of  the  offenders. 

The  curious  idea  of  the  punishment  which  properly 
fits  the  crime  must  have  induced  the  authorities  to  de- 
cide as  they  did  in  the  case  of  an  unfortunate  heer-bib- 
bing  citizen-soldier,  who  was  brought  up  before  the  ses- 
sions at  Gravesend  for  having  left  his  post  while  station- 
ed on  guard.  He  must  have  been  caught  either  intoxi- 
cated or  drinking,  for  his  punishment  was  to  sit  upon  a 
wooden  horse  during  parade,  with  a  pitcher  in  one  hand 
and  a  drawn  sword  in  the  other,  to  show  that  he  loved 
beer  more  than  his  duty,  and  that  his  courage  was 
always  to  be  determined  by  the  quantity  of  liquor  con- 
sumed. 

Another  of  the  records  of  the  court  runs  as  follows  : 

There  being  a  strange  man  in  the  custody  of  the  constable  of 
Flatbush,  and  no  person  laying  claim  to  him,  the  court  orders 
ye  man  shall  be  appraised  and  sold,  and  if  any  person  hereafter 
lay  lawful  claims  to  him.  he  paying  what  lawful  charges  are  out 
upon  him,  may  have  him  again. 

From  this  the  reader  may  receive  the  impression  that 
it  was  the  custom  to  inhospitably  seize  and  sell  every 
stranger  who  ventured  into  the  little  Dutch  settlement, 
until  it  is  learned  that  the  record  refers  to  a  slave 
escaped  or  astray  from  his  owner. 


14 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


A  court  house  was  built  in  Gravesend  in  1668,  but  the 
courts  of  the  county  were  removed  to  Flatbush  in  1686, 
when  another  court  house  was  erected.  The  change  was 
made  because  Flatbush  was  the  geographical  centre  of 
the  county.  '  This  court  house  remained  until  a  larger  one 
was  built,  in  1758,  costing  £448,  raised  by  assessment. 
This  building  was  not  a  substantial  one,  and  in  a  few 
years  became  so  badly  out  of  repair  that  a  new  one  had 
to  be  built  in  1792.  This  had  a  jail  attached.  It  stood 
until  1832,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  November 
30.  Since  that  time  all  the  courts  have  been  held  in 
Brooklyn.  During  the  burning  of  the  jail,  the  prison- 
ers, with  one  exception,  exerted  themselves  to  extin- 
guish the  flames,  and  afterwards  voluntarily  submitted 
to  re-imprisonment  in  another  place  selected  by  the 
jailer  for  that  purpose. 

The  early  Brooklynites  were  evidently  either  total  ab- 
stainers from  intoxicating  drink,  or  else  the  farmers  im- 
ported and  kept  in  their  houses  their  favorite  tipple.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  it  was  not  until  the  year  1668  that  a  pub- 
lic drinking  place  was  opened.  On  January  4  of  that 
year,  one  Eobert  HoUis  was  granted  the  exclusive  privi- 
lege of  selling  strong  drink  in  Breuckelen. 

When  New  York  again  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Dutch,  in  1673,  the  magistrates  of  Breuckelen  and  the 
other  towns  of  the  West  Eiding  received  a  code  of  ' '  Pro- 
visional Instructions "  from  the  new  government  for 
their  guidance  in  the  government  of  the  town.    By  these 

provisional  instructions  "  all  cases  relating  to  the  po- 
lice, to  the  security  and  peace  of  the  inhabitants,  and  to 
justice  between  man  and  man  were  to  be  definitely  de- 
termined by  the  magistrates   of   the  village,  to  the 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


15 


amount  of  sixty  guilders  or  less  in  beavers.  The  sheriff 
and  the  commissioner  of  the  magistrates  constituted  the 
court  of  appeal.  Their  jurisdiction,  however,  did  not 
extend  to  cases  involving  more  than  240  guilders. 

The  peace  and  welfare  of  the  town  were  under  the 
care  of  the  sheriff  and  magistrates,  who  were  author- 
ized— 

' '  to  issue  orders  relative  to  the  laying  out  and  making  of 
roads,  the  surveying  of  lots  and  garden  spots,  and  whatever  has 
any  relations  to  agriculture,  also  with  respect  to  keeping  the 
Sabbath,  building  of  churches,  school-houses  and  similar  public 
works." 

They  were  required  to  act  promptly  in  cases  of  fight- 
ing, throwing  stones,  and  other  petty  crimes.  They 
were  ordered  to  see  that  all  placards  and  ordinances  pub- 
lished by  the  chief  magistrate  were  well  observed  and 
executed,  and  not  to  allow  them  to  be  disobeyed  by 
any  one ;  that  transgressors  should  be  prosecuted,  and 
that  all  and  every  law  should  be  promptly  obeyed.  The 
sheriff  was  ordered  to  ^'  keep  his  jurisdiction  free  frojn 
every  sort  of  villany  in  trading,  brothels  and  similar  im- 
purities.'' 

The  first  correctional  implements  which  were  erected 
in  Brooklyn  were  put  up  under  the  order  of  a  court  of 
sessions  held  at  Flatbush,  November  8,  1692.  The  order 
was  as  follows  : 

' '  The  Courte  doe  order  that  there  be  a  good  pare  of  stocks  and 
a  good  pound  made  in  every  town  within  Kings  County,  and  to 
be  always  kept  in  sufficient  repairs,  and  that  there  be  warrants 
issued  to  the  constables  of  every  towne  to  see  the  order  of  the 
Court  performed,  as  they  will  answer  the  contrary  at  their 
peril." 


16 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


On  November  12,  1G05,  the  court  ordered  that  the  con- 
stables of  the  towns — 

' '  shall  on  Sabbath  or  Sabbath  day,  take  law  for  the  apprehend- 
ing of  all  Sabbath  breakers,  and  search  all  houses,  taverns  and 
other  suspected  places,  for  all  prof aners  and  breakers  of  the  Sab- 
bath day,  and  bring  them  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  to  be 
dealt  with  according  to  law  ;  and  for  any  neglect  of  the  constable 
he  shall  pay  a  fine  of  six  shillings." 

The  status  of  the  constables  in  the  little  community 
and  the  extent  of  their  scholastic  attainments  may  be 
judged  from  the  case  of  Constable  Volkert  Brier,  who, 
when  he  was  fined  five  pounds  and  one  pound  costs  for 
tearing  and  burning  an  execution  directed  to  him  as  con- 
stable, offered  in  extenuation  of  his  fault  the  plea  that 
he  was  an  illiterate  man  who  ' '  could  not  read  said  exe- 
cuceon  nor  understand  anything  of  La  we. " 

The  Dutch  settlers  in  the  Long  Island  villages  lived  in 
phlegmatic  contentment  in  their  boweries  among  their 
children  and  their  cattle,  attending  to  the  affairs  of  their 
little  towns  and  satisfied  to  take  their  growth  and  pros- 
perity as  it  came,  until  the  terrible  times  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  They  did  not  want  this  war,  and  the 
hardships  it  brought  upon  them  seemed  to  be  more 
weighty.  When,  however,  the  necessity  of  fighting  was 
thrust  upon  them  they  bore  their  part  nobly  and  watered 
their  own  farms  with  their  blood,  spilled  by  British 
soldiers  and  Hessian  hirelings.  From  the  time  of  tjie 
occupation  of  the  town  by  the  British  until  the  end  of 
the  war  the  most  vigorous  military  rule  took  the  place 
of  local  government.  Elections  were  not  allowed;  civil 
courts  were  suspended,  and  a  king's  justice  or  a  military 
officer  arbitrarily  dispensed  their  functions.    The  British 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


IT 


officers  billeted  themselves  on  the  inhabitants  and  the 
carousing,  gambling,  profanity  and  many  other  vices 
attendant  on  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  troops, 
were  prevalent  upon  every  hand  and  could  not  fail  to 
have  an  evil  effect  on  the  inhabitants.  The  farmers, 
having  no  local  protection,  were  left  at  the  mercy  of  the 
whale-boat  men,  Americans,  who  by  their  desire  for 
plunder  and  their  lawless  spirit  were  drawn  from  the 
purposes  for  which  they  were  organized,  namely,  the 
harassing  of  the  British  ships  in  Xew  York  Bay,  and  they 
made  frequent  descents  upon  the  poor  defenceless  settlers, 
who  were  thus  robbed  of  the  British  gold  that  had  been 
paid  to  them  for  the  produce  of  their  farms. 

For  the  first  few  years  after  the  war  Brooklyn  made 
little  progress  in  municipal  affairs.  The  attention  of  the 
people  was  confined  to  repairing  the  damages  occasioned 
by  hostile  occupation. 

The  first  public  hall  or  town  house  erected  AVithin  the 
limits  of  the  present  city  of  Brooklyn  was  the  Town 
House  of  Bushwick,  which  was  built  some  time  previous 
to  the  Revolution.  The  precise  time  is  not  known,  be- 
cause when  the  town  of  Bushwick  was  swallowed  up  by 
the  present  great  city,  some  ignorant  functionary  of  the 
City  Hall  turned  an  honest  penny  by  selling  the  old 
Dutch  records  as  waste  paper.  The  open  space  in  front 
of  the  Town  House  was  called  the  Hett  Dorp,  or  town 
plot.  This  was  the  gathering  place  of  the  Dutch  citizens 
of  the  town,  and  it  was,  we  are  told,  the  scene  of  great 
jubilation  on  the  first  anniversary  of  the  country's 
independence,  after  the  hated  Red-coats  had  taken  their 
departure  from  the  island.  There  was  a  tall  liberty  pole 
erected  in  front  of  the  house,  and  within  the  circle 


18 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


which  its  shadow  ^iiade  the  villagers  were  wont  to 
celebrate  all  public  holidays. 

In  the  house  itself  all  business  of  a  public  nature,  such 
as  elections  and  public  meetings,  was  transacted.  It 
was  also  the  high  seat  of  justice,  and  the  records  tell  us 
that  in  the  Hett  Dorp,  or  green  before  it,  were  executed 
all  the  sentences  imposed  within  the  primitive  hall  of 
justice.  In  May,  1684,  John  Van  Leyden  stood  there  for 
a  day,  tied  to  a  stake,  with  a  horse's  bridle  bit  in  his 
mouth  and  a  bundle  of  eight  rods  tied  under  his  arm, 
and  bearing  on  his  breast  a  placard  declaring  that  "  John 
Leyden  is  a  writer  of  lampoons,  a  false  accuser  and  a 
defamer  of  magistrates."  Another  culprit  convicted,  at 
least  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  magistrates,  of  theft,  was 
sentenced  to  stand  for  three  hours  under  a  gallows  with 
a  rope  around  his  neck  and  an  empty  scabbard  in  his 
hand. 

The  Town  House  continued  till  long  after  the  Revolu- 
tion to  be  the  scene  of  municipal  transactions,  and  v^as 
used  for  that  purpose  alone,  until  at  length  it  struck  the 
I)hlegmatic  old  burghers  who,  as  electors,  had  charge  of 
the  town  affairs,  that  it  would  be  a  happy  idea  to  make 
it  pay  a  part  of  the  annual  taxes,  and  they  rented  it  as  a 
tavern,  though  beneath  its  roof  they  continued  to  dis- 
pense Dutch  justice,  while  the  innkeeper  dispensed  among 
them  good  liquors.  The  place  was  finally  bought  out- 
right by  a  Yankee,  and  maintained  as  a  tavern  with  no 
legal  or  judicial  adjunct. 


CHAPTEB  IL 


From  1785  to  1850. 


Two  Constables  Guard  the  Town.— Hix  and  De  B.  Voise.— Eighteen 
Dollars  a  Year  Salary. — An  Additional  Tipstaff  in  1804. — 
Remarkably  Variegated  Duties. — Fees  op  Ye  Olden  Tyme. — 
Detectives  Unknown. — How  They  Caught  a  Chicken-thief. — 
Breaking  Jail  by  Kicking  the  Window  Out. — What  the  Lock-up 
Probably  Was. — Good  Thing  for  "Drunks." — 1809  Brings  Con- 
stable No.  4. — Poor  Place  for  Thieves. — Money  and  Barter  — 
Burglaries  by  Seamen. — Justice  Nichol  and  Rike  Reid. — 1810 
Doggerel. — A  Polite  Magistrate. — Five  Constables  in  1825. — 
• '  Divvying  Up  "  with  Lawyers.  —  Enterprise  in  Collecting 
Taxes. — Immigration  into  Brooklyn. — Real  Estate  Lively. — 
A  New  Jail. — River-thieves  Make  Their  Appearance. — Where 
They  Came  From. — Sailors  Then  and  Now. — Old  Admiralty  and 
Criminal  Records. — Universal  Drunkenness. — Lyman  Beeciier. 
— How  Drunkards  were  Treated  and  How  Regarded  by  Society. 
— Drunken  Officers, — A  Fine  Piece  of  Detective  Work. — How 
Constable  Bergex  Found  the  Carpet-bag. — Clews  Ingeniousi-y 
Run  Down. — 1835,  Brooklyn  Now  a  City. — Fighting  Watchmen. 
— The  Pleasant  Pastime  of  Hunting  Policemen. — Thieves  Enjoy 
Themselves. — 1840,  Burglaries. — The  Phelps  Murder. — Miscar- 
riage OF  Justice. — Saturnalia  of  Stealing. — The  Muster  roll 
of  the  Gangs.— Receivers  or  Fences.— Where  They  Used  To  Be. 
— Wanted  a  Police  Department. — Who  Fought  For  It  and  Who 
Against.— It  Comes  in  1850. 

fN  THE  last  century  and  until  1835,  the  policemen  of  the 
village  of  Brooklyn  were  the  constables  and  at  times 
special  deputy  sheriffs.  Besides  these,  there  were  Avatch- 
men  employed  chiefly  by  private  citizens  and  a  few  by 
the  local  authorities.  In  1TS5  there  were  but  two  con- 
stables, John  Hix  or  Hicks  and  Charles  De  B.  Voise  or 
Debe voise.    It  may  be  remarked  of  this  period  that  every 


20 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


person  seems  to  have  })ronounced  better  than  he  spelled. 
The  records  show  the  existence  of  two  watchmen,  one 
employed  by  Fernandas  Suydani  and  the  other  by  Tunis 
Bergen.  The  work  done  by  these  four  worthies  was  not 
wearisome.  In  one  year  they  made  fifteen  arrests,  and 
received  for  their  police  services  eighteen  dollars  from 
the  village  government.  The  chief  offenders  in  those 
early  days  were  farmers'  hands,  who  at  some  dance  or 
husking-party  indulged  in  excessive  ale,  and  slaves  who 
had  an  extreme  fondness  for  their  neighbors'  chicken - 
coops  and  melon-patches. 

Population  grew  but  slowly.  Not  until  ISOtt  was  the 
number  of  constables  increased,  and  then  it  was  done  by 
the  addition  of  one  knight  of  the  tipstaff.  The  duties  of 
these  three  officials  were  characterized  by  a  remarkable 
variety.  As  court  officers  they  attended  all  the  meetings 
of  the  local  magistrate,  the  County  Court,  the  Common 
Pleas,  the  Sessions  and  the  Oyer  and  Terminer.  For  this 
they  received  a  small  per  diem  fee.  They  served  writs 
and  judicial  processes,  collected  taxes,  rang  the  fire  bell 
and  chimes  and  acted  as  inspectors  at  elections.  Despite 
the  multifarious  duties,  their  annual  income  did  not 
exceed  five  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  and  when  busi- 
ness was  bad,  fell  as  low  as  two  hundred.  The  official 
fee  book  of  the  time  is  instructive  reading  in  these  days 
of  high-priced  officials.  For  serving  papers  on  a  man 
living  within  four  miles,  12^  cents  ;  it  is  now  Y5.  For 
attending  court,  25  cents  a  day  ;  it  is  now  $4.00.  For 
dispossessing,  25  cents  ;  now  $5.00  and  disbursements. 

A  detective  was  an  unknown  fact  in  those  days.  The 
very  word  was  unheard,  not  having  been  introduced  into 
English  speech.    A  shrewd  constable  or  watch  was  styled 


i 


^  Brooklyn's  guardians.  21 

as  a  matter  of  compliment,  ''a  Bow  Street  rmmer." 
Now  and  then  the  constables  did  good  work  in  what  W(jul(l 
now  be  called  the  ''  detective  line.''  In  1787,  a  farmer 
named  Bergen,  living  on  the  Clove  Eoad  (about  where 
Atlantic  Avenue  now  intersects  Classon),  was  robbed  of 
his  chickens.  The  theft  was  so  adroitly  committed  as  to 
leave  no  apparent  trace  or  clue  of  the  perpetrator. 
Bergen  offered  a  large  reward  for  those  days  for  tlie 
arrest  and  conviction  of  the  thief.  De  B.  Voise  under- 
took the  job  and  studied  it  carefully.  He  laid  out  a  plan 
and  engaged  a  Xew  Yorker,  who  enjoyed  adventure,  to 
go  from  house  to  house  in  the  guise  of  a  feather-buyer. 
He  finally  came  to  a  farm  whose  owner  was  eminently 
respectable,  where  the  housewife  offered  him  a  remark- 
ably large  amount  of  fresh  feathers  for  sale.  Under  pre- 
tence of  going  back  to  get  enough  money,  he  left  and 
reported  to  De  B.  Voise,  who  arrested  the  farmer  that 
evening.  The  criminal  was  never  punished,  as  the  first 
night  of  his  incarceration  in  the  '  *  calaboose  "  or  koop," 
he  escaped  by  the  simple  means  of  kicking  the  window 
out  and  walking  away. 

It  is  somewhat  uncertain  where  this  jail  was.  Accord- 
ing to  various  antiquarians  it  has  been  placed  near  the 
present  corner  of  Orange  and  Fulton  Streets,  at  the  foot 
of  Ferry  (now  Main)  Street  and  at  the  foot  of  the  main 
road  (now  Fulton  Street).  Judging  from  different  ac- 
counts, it  must  have  been  a  one-storied,  smaU  square 
building,  with  one  or  two  windows,  a  hole  in  the  roof, 
and  an  earthen  floor.  These  inferences  are  drawn  from 
the  fact  that  escapes  were  made  by  kicking  out  the 
window,  prying  open  the  door,  climbing  out  the  chimney 
hole  and  digging  under  the  wall.    The  worthy  burghers 


22 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


refused  to  hire  a  jailer  or  jail- watchman.  They  undoubt- 
edly argued  that  any  man  strong  and  desperate  enough 
to  break  out  of  the  ''  koop"  and  escape  across  the  East 
River  was  too  dangerous  a  person  to  keep  in  the  village. 
It  is  probable  that  the  ''calaboose"  in  the  last  century 
was  intended  more  as  a  place  to  keep  a  man  safe  than 
one  in  which  to  punish  him  by  incarceration.  There  the 
drunkard  could  not  hurt  himself,  and  the  thieving  slave 
was  secure  from  the  blows  of  the  white  and  the  gibes 
and  annoyance  of  the  black  race.  These  are  never  re- 
ported to  have  escaped  ;  those  who  effected  their  libera- 
tion were  sailors,  out-of-town  farmers  and  people  accused 
of  serious  offences. 

1809  saw  the  village  so  much  larger  that  a  fourth  con- 
stable was  added  to  the  existing  trio.  The  increase  was 
demanded  by  the  growth  of  official  and  judicial  business 
and  not  by  an  increase  of  crimes  and  criminals.  There 
were  but  few  offences  against  person  and  property  in 
those  days — probably  from  the  fact  that  there  was  almost 
nothing  to  steal  and  neither  place  nor  person  to  receive 
the  booty  after  it  had  been  secured.  Wealth  was  quite 
evenly  distributed,  and  consisted  almost  exclusively  of 
real  estate,  live-stock  and  slaves.  Marriage  settlements 
were  drawn  as  late  as  1810,  in  which  the  jointure  con- 
sists largely  of  farming  land.  There  were  no  banks  nor 
other  means  of  investing  money  securely.  Money  itself 
was  scarce.  Nearly  all  the  account  books  of  both  farm- 
ers and  merchants  of  that  time  show  that  money  trans- 
actions were  infrequent  and  that  barter  was  the  basis  of 
a  large  proportion  of  all  the  business  done.  It  is  not  to 
be  inferred  that  people  were  more  honest  then  than  now. 
They  simply  had  no  opportunities.    The  change  from 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  23 

twenty-eight  arrests  in  1700  to  thirty  thousand  in  1880 
means  not  so  much  the  increase  of  wrong-doers  as  it 
does  the  increase  of  portahie  wealth  and  of  its  concomit- 
ant temptations. 

In  the  winter  of  1810  there  were  many  hurglaries  and 
nocturnal  thefts  from  houses  along  the  river  front. 
These  created  excitement  at  the  time,  and  were  at  first 
supposed  to  have  heen  committed  by  thieves  from  New 
York,  who  had  crossed  the  East  Eiver  in  rowboats.  The 
constables  and  watch  redoubled  their  vigilance,  but  to  no 
avail.  The  robberies  continued,  even  under  the  very 
noses  of  the  officials.  Suddenly  they  ceased  as  they  had 
begun,  and  as  the  time  of  their  commission  coincided 
with  the  stay  of  a  large  merchant  vessel  in  port,  it  was 
finally  concluded  that  the  perpetrators  had  been  foreign 
seamen  on  board  of  the  ship  mentioned. 

About  this  time  Justice  Nichols  or  Nichol  was  the 
local  magistrate,  and  Rike  or  Riker  Reid  the  constable. 
Both  were  stern,  obstinate  and  muscular  men,  who  ably 
sustained  the  dignity  of  the  law.  In  their  honor  some 
unknown  bard  penned  the  following  rhymes  (which  ap- 
peared in  the  columns  of  the  Long  Island  Star) : 

Do  you  not  fear  the  terrors  of  the  law, 
The  direful  energy  of  Justice  Nichol, 

Or  lest  Rike  Reid  let  fall  his  mighty  paw, 
And  put  you  in  a  very  pretty  pickle  ? 

Another  poetaster  of  the  period  possibly  voiced  the 
feehngs  of  many  who  had  suffered  from  the  strong  arm 
of  the  dead  constable  when  he  scribbled  these  hnes: 


24 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


Hick's  Post's  a  mile  away  from  town  I  know 

While  Hix  was  e'er  from  post  away. 
But  as  he's  dead  and  gone  below 

Hix  now  is  on  his  post  alway. 

A  curious  commentary  upon  the  police  discipline  of 
'^Olde  Brooklynne"  is  afforded  by  the  fact  that  on  one 
occasion  a  magistrate  censured  a  constable  for  getting 
drunk  with  his  prisoner  and  falling  down  stairs,  and  on 
another  a  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  asked  a  constable 
to  please  keep  sober  that  week,  as  he  had  been  drunk 
every  day  during  the  past  one. 

In  the  meantime  Brooklyn  was  growing,  although  but 
slowly.  What  little  immigration  arrived  settled  in  New 
York  or  moved  westward.  The  future  metropolis  was 
struggling  for  supremacy  with  Boston,  Providence,  New 
Bedford,  Bristol,  New  London,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore, 
Norfolk  and  Charleston,  and  the  struggle  for  many  years 
was  so  close  as  to  give  no  indication  of  the  coming  victor. 

The  constabulary  increased  to  five  in  1825.  The  in- 
crease was  so  important  an  event  in  the  village  as  to  be 
chronicled  in  the  local  press.  Business  was  good,  and 
constabularies'  duties  were  remunerative  and  not  oner- 
ous. According  to  the  late  Alden  J.  Spooner,  they  began 
at  that  time  what  was  then  a  novel  practice,  obtaining 
commissions  from  lawyers  for  civil,  and  especially  mari- 
time and  admiralty  business  they  brought  to  the  latter. 
They  even  went  so  far  as  to  board  vessels  and  cross  the 
ferry  to  secure  clients  for  their  quasi-partners.  In  col- 
lecting taxes,  they  began  to  display  the  modern  spirit, 
charging  additional  fees  and  percentages  from  dilatory 
land-owners,  where  formerly  they  were  only  too  glad  to 
extend  every  courtesy  to  unfortunate  delinquents.  These 

I 

i 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


25- 


innovations  are  not  without  significance.  They  indicate 
that  the  village  or  town  is  losing  its  original  character 
and  is  approaching  the  stage  in  which  it  becomes  a  city. 
1830  brought  six  constables  into  the  field.  The  demand 
for  these  officials  had  become  greater  than  the  supply. 
Immigration  had  begun  to  ])our  across  the  East  River 
from  New  York,  and  New  Englanders,  moving  west- 
ward, had  discovered  the  many  advantages  offered  by 
Brooklyn  as  a  home.  The  influx  of  newcomers  followed 
no  particular  route,  but  settled  in  Brooklyn,  Williams- 
burgh,  Bushwick,  Greenpoint  and  Bedford  alike.  The 
city  was  rapidly  mapped  out.  Real  estate  speculation 
and  building  for  sale  became  new  features  in  local  life. 
Wealth  and  poverty  increased,  and  with  them  crimes 
and  criminals,  while  the  courts  did  a  larger  and  more 
important  business.  Besides  the  constables,  the  number 
of  special  deputy  sheriffs,  and  private  and  public  watch- 
men, w^as  largely  increased.  A  secure  jail  was  built  up 
town,  and  a  jailer  appointed  by  the  county  authorities. 
The  beginnings  of  a  police  system  were  seen  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  night-patrol  of  the  different  persons  paid 
for  that  purpose. 

In  the  following  decade  the  professional  river-thief 
puts  in  an  appearance.  Commerce  had  developed  into 
large  proportions,  and  the  high  wharfage  and  demurrage 
exacted  by  New  York  pier  owners  and  lessees  drove 
many  vessels  over  to  the  Brooklyn  side  of  the  bay. 
There  was  as  yet  little  of  the  vast  storage  and  warehouse 
industries  of  the  present  time,  the  number  of  wharves 
still  being  small,  and  the  few  warehouses  being  inade- 
quate to  store  more  than  one  cargo.  The  river-thieves 
at  first  were  runaway  seamen  of  the  worst  type.  Chief 


26 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


among  them  were  dmnken  roughs  from  Liverpool,  Lon- 
don and  other  cities,  who  had  been  shanghaied  "  abroad 
and  who  availed  themselves  of  the  first  opportunity  to 
desert  ship  and  renew  their  vicious  habits  on  dry  land. 
They  made  but  few  friends  at  first  among  the  American 
population,  but  these  were  of  the  same  general  class  as 
themselves.  Few  of  them  married,  but  all  lived  Avith 
abandoned  women  of  all  sorts  by  whom  they  had  chil- 
dren as  bad  as  if  not  worse  than  the  parents.  These 
primitive  river-thieves  were  not  as  reckless  or  courageous 
as  the  famous  freebooters  of  the  sixties  and  seventies,  or 
rather  did  not  make  the  same  exhibition  of  these  quali- 
ties. Vessels  were  better  guarded  and  better  manned  in 
the  early  part  of  the  century.  The  seamen  of  that  period 
were  members  of  an  unorganized  guild.  Though  ad- 
dicted to  intoxicating  liquor  and  the  accompanying  vices, 
they  were  brave,  faithful,  affectionate  and  honest.  Now- 
adays, ruthless  competition  and  the  substitution  of 
steamers  for  sailing  vessels  has  driven  them  out  of  occu- 
pation and  replaced  them  with  the  riff-raff  of  every  city 
and  race.  The  river-pirate  of  the  thirties  knew  that  to 
board  or  rob  a  vessel  meant  death  if  discovered  ;  while 
his  descendant  of  the  seventies  found  that  his  best  ac- 
complices were  among  the  ship's  employees. 

The  Admiralty  and  criminal  reports  of  this  period 
bear  strong  testimony  to  this  condition  of  affairs.  Hardly 
a  case  appears  upon  the  record  in  which  a  seaman  ap- 
pears in  a  bad  light,  excepting  when  he  has  yielded  to 
the  temptation  to  drink.  On  the  other  hand  the  crimi- 
nal records  show  nearly  all  the  river-thieves  arrested  at 
this  time  to  be  of  foreign  birth  and  raising,  and  to  have 
come  here  as  able-bodied  mariners.    They  lived  then,  as 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


27 


now,  along  the  river- front — their  chief  headquarters  be- 
ing near  where  South  and  Fulton  Ferries  now  are,  the 
Wallabout  and  Newtown  Creek. 

Beyond  the  river  thieves  there  was  scarcely  any  crimi- 
nal class  in  the  village.  Travel  across  the  East  Eiver 
was  slow,  expensive  and  uncertain,  and  few  malefactors 
would  undertake  the  risk  of  the  voyage.  The  drinking 
was  confined  to  inns,  taverns,  chop-houses  and  groceries. 
The  gilded  saloon,  the  beergarden,  the  cellar  and  the  dive 
were  as  yet  unknown  facts.  Another  curious  illustration 
of  the  changes  wrought  in  sixty  years  is  that  in  the 
thirties  it  was  not  unusual  for  farmers  to  get  drunk  in 
their  houses,  lawyers  in  their  offices  and  merchants  in 
their  places  of  business.  What  is  more  striking  is  that 
society  regarded  the  practice  rather  as  a  good  joke  than 
as  something  to  be  deplored.  Nor  was  this  state  of  affairs 
confined  to  Brooklyn.  It  extended  more  or  less  over  the 
entire  country  and  started  the  great  temperance  move- 
ment in  which  the  distinguished  divine  Lyman  Beecher 
took  so  active  a  part.  The  constabulary  shared  the 
indifference  of  the  public  toward  drunkenness.  A  stag- 
gering citizen  vainly  endeavoring  to  find  his  way  home 
v/as  seldom  interfered  with  by  either  hand  or  club  and 
almost  never  arrested.  If  unable  to  stand,  he  was  put  in 
some  place  where  he  could  not  be  run  over  and  allowed 
to  sleep  off  the  intoxication.  The  constables  themselves 
were  hard  drinkers  and  when  not  attending  to  official 
business  could  only  be  found  in  the  taverns  of  Avhich  they 
were  the  chief  habitues.  Despite  the  conviviality  of  the 
constables  they  did  very  clever  work  at  times.  In  1832 
a  farmer  who  was  returning  to  his  home  in  Valley  Stream 
stopped  in  at  a  tavern  on  Front  street  between  Fulton 


28 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


and  Main.  He  carried  a  brightly-colored  carpet  bag 
which  contained  $500  in  cash,  some  jewelry,  trinkets 
and  clothing.  There  were  friends  at  the  hospitable  bar 
whom  he  had  not  seen  for  some  time  and  with  whom  he 
entered  into  an  interesting  conversation.  A  half  hour 
passed  when  he  noticed  that  his  carpet  bag  had  disap- 
peared. Thinking  at  first  that  it  was  a  practical  joke  by 
some  waggish  friend,  he  gave  the  matter  but  little  atten- 
tion. When  assured  however  that  none  of  them  had 
touched  it,  he  became  alarmed  and  all  made  a  thorough 
search  but  without  success.  In  the  meantime,  Constable 
Bergen  had  entered  the  tavern  and  heard  the  facts.  He 
carefully  interrogated  every  one  as  to  who  had  been  pre- 
sent in  the  place  and  finally  learned  that  there  had  been 
a  stranger  there  at  first  whom  they  had  not  noticed. 
Concluding  that  this  was  the  thief  he  ran  to  the  ferry  slip 
into  which  the  vessel  was  just  returning  from  New  York. 
The  master  and  crew  when  they  listened  to  his  story 
became  very  communicative  and  said  that  on  their  last 
trip  they  had  carried  over  two  persons  one  of  whom  they 
knew  and  the  other  not ;  that  the  pair  seemed  acquainted 
and  had  conversed  all  the  way  over  ;  but  that  neither  of 
them  had  either  carpet-bag  or  bundle.  The  constable 
was  non-plussed  but  inspired  by  a  happy  thought  crossed 
the  river  and  called  upon  the  passenger  who  was  known 
to  the  crew.  He  proved  to  be  an  intelligent  tradesman 
and  an  admirable  witness.  He  said  that  when  he  got  on 
the  ferry  boat,  the  master  and  crew  were  in  a  neighbor- 
ing tavern  ;  that  shortly  after  the  second  passenger  with 
whom  he  had  a  slight  business  acquaintance  came  on 
board  with  a  medium  sized  bundle,  done  up  clumsily  in 
paper  and  tied  with  many  strings  as  if  to  keep  it  perfectly 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


20 


secure  ;  that  he  laid  the  bundle  down  and  covered  it  with 
his  topcoat  as  if  to  prevent  any  spray  from  washing  on 
it  and  had  picked  it  up  inside  the  coat  without  showing 
it  when  they  disembarked.  He  gave  the  constable  the 
name  and  occupation  of  his  acquaintance  and  the  tavern 
the  latter  frequented,  but  was  unable  to  give  any  other 
address.  Bergen  proceeded  to  the  tavern  and  was  talking 
to  the  proprietor  when  the  door  opened  and  the  object  of 
his  search  entered  accompanied  by  some  friend.  Despite 
protestations  of  innocence  and  threats  of  bodily  harm 
the  constable  arrested  and  conveyed  him  to  Brooklyn. 
He  returned  to  the  tavern  in  New  York  and  made  inqui- 
ries as  to  the  companion  of  the  arrested  man.  The  land- 
lord stated  that  he  was  a  good  honest  fellow  too  much 
addicted  to  drink  and  who  worked  for  short  spells  and 
then  spent  days  and  even  weeks  in  intoxication.  He 
gave  the  constable  a  list  of  drinking-places  where  the 
fellow  might  be  found.  Bergen  scoured  all  these  and  at 
last  found  his  man.  He  was  drunk  and  inclined  to  be 
morose  and  pugnacious,  but  judicious  talk  and  more 
judicious  treats  finally  induced  him  to  admit  that  he  had 
met  his  arrested  friend  coming  out  of  a  house  on  Water 
street,  and  that  he  had  not  seen  him  before  that  day. 
Though  it  was  now  night,  the  constable  repaired  to  the 
house  and  found  the  landlord  in  bed.  He  aroused  the 
latter,  who  turned  out  to  be  a  very  decent  fellow,  and 
who  said  that  the  accused  had  lived  there  several  months; 
that  about  noon  that  day  the  latter  had  entered  the 
place  with  his  overcoat,  rolled  up  like  a  ])illow,  under  his 
arm,  and  had  gone  to  the  third  floor  where  his  room  was 
and  where  he  remained  about  an  hour,  and  that  he  then 
had  come  down  stairs  and  gone  out.    Bergen  and  tlie 


30 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


landlord  ascended  to  the  room  and  made  a  thorough 
search,  but  found  no  trace  of  a  carpet-bag.  They  were 
about  to  give  up  in  despair  when  the  former  noticed  dusty 
finger-marks  on  the  pane  and  sills  of  a  small,  unused 
window  which  overlooked  the  roof  of  the  next  house. 
Lighting  a  lantern,  he  made  his  way  to  the  roof  and  in 
a  few  minutes  found  the  lost  article  stuffed  down  the  flue 
of  the  chimney  of  the  adjacent  house.  The  property, 
excepting  some  thirty  dollars,  was  all  recovered,  and  the 
thief  convicted  and  sent  to  prison. 

In  1835,  when  Brooklyn  left  villagehood  for  good  and 
became  a  full-fledged  city,  there  was,  strange  to  say, 
almost  no  provision  made  for  a  police  department.  The 
new  municipal  authorities  saved  themselves  the  trouble 
of  thought  and  study  by  the  simple  expedient  of  con- 
tinuing the  old  system,  or  rather  lack  of  system.  As  it 
was  inadequate  to  the  wants  of  the  city,  they  added  a 
batch  of  watchmen,  and  then  calmly  recommended  the 
citizens  to  also  employ  private  guardians  of  the  pohce. 
This  remarkable  state  of  affairs  lasted  fifteen  years  and 
can  be  scarcely  paralleled  in  the  history  of  any  American 
city.  At  times  the  system  was  positively  ludicrous.  For 
instance  a  private  watch"  employed  by  A.,  B.  and  C. 
would  solicit  the  custom  of  D.,  the  next  neighbor;  the 
same  thing  would  be  done  by  the  watch"  employed  by 
E.,  F.  and  G.  The  rivals  would  learn  of  each  other's 
attempts  and  a  collision  was  the  immediate  result.  In 
the  wealthier  thoroughfares  the  brawls  were  of  so  fre- 
quent occurrence  that  the  sight  of  two  watchmen  dis- 
guised in  blood  and  profanity,  pounding  each  other  with 
their  night-sticks,  occasioned  no  comment,  save  it  might 
be  compliments  upon  the  superior  skill  displayed  by  the 


BROOKLYN'?^  fiU ARDIAXS. 


31 


parties  to  the  fight.  Wiien  a  iiiaii  was  arrested  he  was 
taken  immediately  hefore  the  nearest  'Squire,  who  held 
an  examination  or  trial,  fixed  and  accepted  bail  and 
otherwise  disposed  of  the  case.  When,  as  was  often  the 
case,  the  'Squire  was  away,  the  luckless  prisoner  was 
walked  miles  and  miles  from  place  to  i^lace  by  his  cap- 
tor, and  at  a  late  hour  in  the  night  was  compelled  to 
sleep  handcuffed  to  the  watchman  or  else  locked  up  in 
some  cellar,  closet  or  dark  room.  As  there  was  httle  or 
no  organization,  a  watchman  who  found  himself  at- 
tacked by  criminals,  or  whose  prisoner  was  rescued  by 
pals,  knew  not  where  to  obtain  assistance,  and  often 
finding  himself  sorely  beset  took  to  his  heels  for  safety. 
It  seems  grcituitous  to  remark  that  the  spectacle  of  a 
pohceman  being  hunted  through  the  streets  by  enter 
prising  burglars  or  high^raymen  is  neither  gratifying 
nor  agreeable  to  a  sensitive  soul. 

During  the  summer  of  ISJrO  an  unusual  number  of 
burglaries  were  committed.  The  Heights  suffered  chiefly, 
and  there  was  a  peculiar  mystery  about  the  mamier  in 
which  the  houses  were  entered.  There  was  nothing  to 
indicate  any  forcible  entry  from  Avithout.  It  always  ap- 
peared that  the  door,  generally  the  basement,  had  been 
opened  from  the  inside.  For  a  long  time  the  efforts  of 
the  authorities  to  discover  the  perpetrators  were  baffled, 
and  were  only  successful  ultimately  by  the  arrest  of  the 
murderers  of  a  boy  of  twelve  years  old,  named  Phelps. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phelps  hved  in  Warren  street.  Their  son 
was  very  fond  of  out-door  sports,  and  loved  to  fish  from 
the  wharves  and  piers  along  the  river.  He  was  an  only 
child,  amiable  and  interesting,  and  the  idol  of  his  parents. 
Late  one  afternoon  the  body  of  the  boy  was  found  in 


32 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Bergen  street  near  a  small  house.  There  were  few  resi- 
dences in  the  vicinity  in  those  days.  Young  Phelps's 
throat  had  been  cut  ^^so  skillfully,"  said  the  surgeon, 
^'  that  the  object  of  the  murderers  seemed  to  be  to  take 
the  life  of  the  boy  in  the  shortest  possible  time  and  by 
the  smallest  wound.''  Mayor  Cyrus  P.  Smith  and  the 
District  Attorney  took  much  interest  in  the  case,  but 
their  personal  endeavors  and  those  of  the  watchmen  to 
discover  the  criminal  proved  unavailing.  A  pedler, 
named  McGonegal,  lived  on  Joralemon  Street  with  his 
three  sons,  Cooke,  Mangum  and  Nesbitt,  in  a  house 
called  the  Eagle  Tavern.  Nesbitt  was  called  by  his  com- 
panions, ' '  Butcher  Bill. "  John  Mcllhenny  kept  a  tavern 
which  was  almost  under  the  angle  of  the  Heights,  not 
far  from  the  river.  Mcllhenny  and  McGonegal  were 
young  and  good-looking,  and  made  themselves  very 
agreeable  to  the  servant  girls  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
their  attentions  were  received  in  perfectly  good  faith. 
The  suspicion  arose  that  these  men  were  in  some  way 
connected  with  the  burglaries.  One  of  the  youths, 
Cooke,  was  arrested.  He  told  the  Mayor  that  he  could 
put  him  in  the  way  of  finding  the  murderer  of  young 
Phelps.  He  stated  that  Butcher  and  Mangum  became 
acquainted  with  young  Phelps  by  fishing  at  the  same 
place.  Just  before  the  murder,  Butcher  had  told  him 
that  young  Phelps  had  overheard  them  talking  about  the 
burglaries  and  had  threatened  to  tell  his  father,  and  that 
he.  Butcher,  would  take  care  to  prevent  the  exposure. 
Butcher  and  Mangum  were  at  once  arrested.  It  was  as- 
certained that  on  the  morning  of  the  murder,  a  boy  had 
called  for  young  Phelps  to  go  fishing.  A  servant  had 
seen  them  go  away  together.    The  girl  had  left  Mr. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


33 


Phelps's  service.  She  was,  however,  found,  and  de- 
scribed the  appearance  of  the  boy,  which  taUied  with 
that  of  Cooke.  Cooke  was  indicted  for  the  murder,  and 
Cooke,  Nesbitt  (^Butcher)  and  Mangum  were  indicted  for 
the  burglaries,  and  McGonegal  and  Mcllhenny  for  receiv- 
ing stolen  goods.  Mangum  became  a  witness  for  the 
people,  and  described  the  manner  in  which  the  burglaries 
were  committed.  A  house  would  be  selected,  and  the 
habits  of  all  its  inmates  carefully  learned.  At  a  late 
hour  in  the  night  Cooke  would  lift  the  cover  of  the  coal 
shde,  get  in  the  cellar,  then  to  the  basement,  and  un- 
fasten the  door  and  take  whatever  valuables  he  could  lay 
his  hands  on.  Cooke  w^as  slender  and  agile,  and  easily 
performed  his  part  of  the  work.  Cooke  was  acquitted  of 
the  murder,  the  identification  not  being  complete.  He, 
with  Nesbitt,  was  convicted  of  burglary  and  sent  to 
State's  prison  for  twenty-one  years.  The  death  of  young 
Phelps  broke  his  mother's  heart,  and  she  died  a  maniac 
the  following  year. 

The  remarkable  facihties  offered  for  the  safe  commis- 
sion of  crime  proved  a  first-class  encouragement  of  theft 
and  bore  fruit  all  through  the  '"Forties."  As  the  rich 
neighborhoods  were  well  guarded  by  private  watchmen 
and  patrols,  the  districts  in  which  resided  the  middle 
classes  became  the  favorite  fields  of  the  criminals  of 
both  Brooklyn  and  New  York.  Fortunately  for  the  city 
there  were  no  high  stakes  to  be  won  in  the  game  be- 
tween honesty  and  roguery,  and  the  more  dangerous 
criminals  seldom  gave  the  opportunity  any  attention. 
But  the  small  fry  of  larceny  revelled  in  the  opportunity. 
They  developed  into  classes  ;  there  were  the  area-thieves, 
who  misappropriated  anything  of  value  found  under  a 


34 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


^^stoop"  from  a  baby-wagon  to  an  ash-barrel;  ''clothes-line 
workers/'  who  scaled  fences  and  stole  the  washing  from 
the  lines,  even  in  broad  daylight ;  ''kinchin-layers/'  who 
robbed  little  children  of  their  money,  jewelry,  coats  and 
shawls  ;  ''coal-holers,"  who  entered  residences  by  shding 
down  the  coal-hole  into  the  cellar  ;  in  Sonth  Brooklyn  a 
gang  which  never  had  a  distinctive  title,  removed  iron 
gates  and  railings  and  disposed  of  their  booty  to  dealers 
in  second-hand  metal ;  on  the  Hill,  where  now  are  the 
Eleventh  and  Twentieth  Wards  and  where  building  was 
then  progressing  rapidly,  organized  gangs  robbed  the 
new  dwellings  of  chandeliers,  door-knobs,  mantels  and 
sometimes  of  bannisters  and  newel-posts  ;  in  the  Ninth 
Ward  the  "  Achers"  laid  in  wait  for  the  many  boys  and 
young  men  who  in  those  years  went  gunning  and  fish- 
ing where  now  is  Prospect  Heights.  At  the  lower  end 
of  Atlantic  Street,  along  Columbia  Street  and  near  the 
present  sites  of  Fulton  and  Catherine  ferries  were  re- 
ceivers of  stolen  goods  (fences)  where  the  booty  was  dis- 
posed of  quickly  and  safely. 

From  1842  on  there  grew  an  agitation  in  favor  of 
greater  police  protection  and  the  establishment  of  a  de- 
partment of  the  city  government  similar  to  that  enjoyed 
by  New  York.  It  was  urged  by  those  who  had  been 
robbed,  by  the  local  press,  but  above  all  by  a  number  of 
public-spirited  and  far-seeing  men  who  recognized  the 
magnificent  future  of  Brooklyn.  Among  these  may  be 
named  Henry  C.  Murphy,  Alden  Spooner  and  Alden  J. 
Spooner,  John  Furman,  Cyrus  P.  Smith,  Judge  Lott  and 
Judge  Vanderbilt.  The  change  was  opposed  by  wealthy 
land  owners,  who  feared  an  increase  in  the  rate  of  taxa- 
tion as  a  result,  and  by  the  self-styled  "  reformers'' of 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  35 

the  time,  avIio  saw  in  the  proposed  innovation  a  specious 
form  of  2>ohtical  extravagance  and  corruption  and  the 
creation  of  a  horde  of  dishonest  but  all-pov^erful  office- 
holders. One  zealot  of  this  class  in  1843  is  reported  to 
have  said :  '^I'd  sooner  be  robbed  and  have  my  throat 
cut  by  the  thieves,  and  have  the  same  thing  done  to  my 

neighbors,  than  irdj  one  cent  for  a  d  policeman." 

Despite  the  antagonism  described,  the  spirit  of  the  age 
triumphed,  as  in  the  long  run  it  is  always  bound  to  do, 
and  in  1S50  an  admirable  police  department,  based  upon 
the  New  York  system,  was  established  in  the  City  of 
Churches,  which  from  its  inception  has  been  a  cause  of 
pleasure,  pride  and  gratitude  to  all  who  dwell  within  its 
boundaries. 


CHAPTER  TIL 


From  1850  to  1876. 


John  S.  Folk.— The  First  Police  Administration.— Folk's  Admir- 
able Common  Sense.— A  Quiet  Period.— 1857,  The  Metropolitan 
Police  District  Scheme.— A  Political  Monstrosity.— Why  the 
Job  Was  Put  Up.— Its  True  Inwardness.— James  W.  Nye  First 
Commissioner. — Brooklyn  Goes  to  Mulberry  Street,  New  York. 
— The  Old  Precincts  Renumbered. — Sanitary  Squad  Created. — 
Political  Results.— James  S.  T.  Stranahana  Commissioner. — His 
Noble  Life  and  Works. — A  Typical  American  Citizen — A  Statue 
IN  Prospect  Park— I860.— The  Old  Wards  and  the  New. — Thomas 
R.  B.  Stillman,  President  op  the  Metropolitan  Board. — The 
Civil  War. — New  Responsibilities — The  Draft  Riots. — Economy 
and  Reduction. — Bad  Appointments. — Cumbrous  Administra- 
tion.— Rings  and  Scandals. — 1866  Brings  Improvements. — New 
Headquarters. — Yast  Imp^^ovements  Projected  Everywhere  in 
the  City. — Death  op  Hon.  John  G.  Bergen. — The  Bergen  Fam- 
ily.— 1869 — "  Tom  "  Acton  Resigns  and  is  Succeeded  by  "  Hank  " 
Smith  as  President. — Nightly  Lodgers. — Once  a  Blessing  ;  Now 
a  Curse. — Send  Them  to  Jail. — 1870  Restores  Home-rule  to 
Brooklyn. — Daniel  D.  Briggs  and  Isaac  Yan  Anden,  Commis- 
sioners.— Folk  Displaced  by  the  Present  Chief. — New  Head- 
quarters Again. — The  New  Force. — Telegraph  Improvements. 
— Their  Results. — Fires  Inflict  Less  Injury. — 1872  Sees  Briggs, 
Gen.  Jourdan  and  Kaufman,  Commissioners. — Politics  Again. — 
Brooklyn  vs.  Albany. — Cart-rung  Murder. — Officer  Donahue 
Killed  by  Henry  Rodgers. — The  Assassin  Hung. — 1874,  Jourdan 
AND  Jensen. — The  Muster-roll  op  Captains. — 1875  Supplants 
THE  Old  Commissioners  with  Briggs,  Pyburn  and  Hurd. — Stolen 
Property. — Detectives  and  Criminals. — More  Murders  and 
Convictions. 

fN  1850  the  Brooklyn  authorities  organized  a  poHce  de- 
partment upon  the  system  employed  by  New  York. 
The  administration  was  effected  by  a  superintendent  or 
chief,  which  position  was  filled  by  John  S.  Folk.  Mr. 


JOHN  >s.  FOLK. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


37 


Folk  was  a  large,  muscular,  intelligeut  and  fearless  man, 
who  even  at  that  time  was  feared  by  roughs  and  crim- 
inals, and  who  in  one  position  or  another  remained 
connected  with  the  local  force  for  more  than  twenty 
years.  The  city  was  divided  into  districts  ;  the  more 
important  were  known  as  precincts,  and  the  less  as 
sub-precincts.  To  each  precinct  were  allotted  a  cap- 
tain, sergeants,  and  as  many  patrolmen  as  the  ter- 
ritory and  population  required.  The  effect  of  the  new 
system  was  an  enormous  increase  in  the  number  of 
arrests,  and  a  great  decrease  in  the  number  of  re- 
ported crimes  and  other  offences.  From  the  first  Folk 
acted  upon  the  idea  that  it  was  better  to  prevent 
crimes  than  to  detect  the  criminal  after  they  had 
been  committed.  He  declared  war  against  all  profes- 
sional wrong-doers,  and  was  so  earnest  and  zealous  in 
his  administration  as  to  inspire  all  his  subordinates  with 
the  same  feelings.  By  degrees  the  crooks  and  other 
malefactors  Avho  prey  upon  society  began  to  find  that 
the  atmosphere  of  Brooklyn  w^as  becoming  very  un- 
healthf  ul,  and  that  New  York  had  a  thousand  charms  to 
its  one.  Then  resulted  a  gradual  expatriation  of  ^\Tong- 
doers  which  has  never  ceased  since. 

The  early  years  of  the  department  passed  without  any 
noteworthy  events.  The  force  became  disciphned  and 
trustworthy  ;  the  worthless  and  incapable  weeded  out  ; 
the  intelligent  and  clever  were  brought  forward  into  the 
more  responsible  positions.  In  1857,  thanks  to  an  un- 
scrupulous and  corrupt  legislature,  everything  under- 
went a  change  for  the  worse.  At  this  time  political  pas- 
sions were  intensely  excited,  and  everything  was  getting 
into  readiness  for  the  visibly  coming  war.    Politicians  of 


38  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

the  worst  type  were  dominant,  who  left  no  stone  un- 
turned to  secure  every  possible  advantage  for  their  or- 
ganization. At  such  a  time  and  by  such  men  a  bill  was 
framed  and  passed,  whereby  the  policing  of  New  York 
and  its  environs  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  an  irrespon- 
sible commission  of  men  who,  in  the  main,  were  no  bet- 
ter than  mere  ward  politicians.  How  a  bill  so  subversive 
of  the  principles  of  local  self-government,  so  capable  of 
wicked  and  corrupt  use,  and  so  pregnant  with  danger  to 
the  elective  franchise  and  representative  government 
could  ever  become  a  law,  is  a  mystery  to  us  to-day.  Its 
object,  however,  is  more  tangible  now  than  then.  It 
gave  the  police  patronage  of  four  counties  to  one  central 
political  authority,  enabling  the  latter  to  exercise  despotic 
power  over  three  thousand  active,  intelligent  and  influ- 
ential men.  It  gave  them  the  power  to  expend  at  least 
seven  millions  of  dollars  per  annum.  They  could  thus 
control  ward  organizatioiis  and  primary  elections,  and 
thereby  dictate  to  the  people  what  candidates  their  con- 
ventions should  nominate.  To-day,  when  home-rule  is  a 
watchword  that  is  heard  everywhere  in  the  United 
States  and  that  has  crossed  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  simul- 
taneously enter  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland,  such  an 
assumption  of  political  despotic  power  seems  a  monstros- 
ity which  cannot  be  too  vigorously  condemned. 

James  W.  Nye  was  appointed  President  of  the  new 
machine,  known  as  the  Metropolitan  Police  Commission- 
ers. All  the  old  headquarters  were  blotted  out  and  a 
new  central  one  established  at  300  Mulberry  Street  in 
New  York  City.  John  S.  Folk  was  appointed  deputy- 
superintendent,  with  an  office  in  the  basement  of  the 
Brooklyn  City  Hall.    The  old  precincts  were  in  the  main 


BROOKT.YX  S  GUARDIANS. 


30 


retained,  but  were  re-nurabered  so  as  to  be  continuous 
with  those  of  Gotham.  In  the  latter  city  there  were 
forty,  so  those  of  the  former  were  numbered  from  forty- 
one  to  fifty  inchisive,  with  sub-i)recincts  of  the  Forty- 
third  and  Forty-ninth.  The  new  force  was  made  up 
largely  from  the  old,  especially  so  with  those  whose 
political  tendencies  or  backing  coincided  with  the  com- 
mission's. A  few  were  dropped  for  incapacity  or  dis- 
ability and  some  for  political  reasons.  Appointments 
were  made  sufficient  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  thus  created 
and  to  raise  the  total  number  to  three  hundred  and 
sixty  eight.  Besides  these  there  were  fourteen  men 
specially  detailed  as  the  '^Atlantic  Dock  Squad"  for  the 
protection  of  the  vast  property  interests  of  that  famous 
basin  and  paid  by  the  Atlantic  Dock  Company  ;  a  ''Sani- 
tary Squad  *"  of  eight,  including  a  sergeant,  detailed  to 
execute  the  orders  and  protect  the  employees  of  the  Board 
of  Health,  and  about  forty  specials,  who  were  appointed 
at  the  instance  of  private  citizens  and  paid  by  the  latter 
to  protect  their  warehouses  or  manufactories.  Under 
Superintendent  Folk  the  old  discipline  was  maintained, 
despite  the  demoralizing  influence  of  the  political  agen- 
cies brought  into  being  by  the  new  law.  One  effect  of 
the  law  is  still  very  patent ;  it  was  a  potent  factor  in  the 
formation  of  the  Tammany  centralization  which  cul- 
minated in  the  Tweed  Ring  and  in  the  development  of 
the  Republican  rings,  which  at  one  time  dominated  that 
party  in  both  cities  and  which  bore  floAver  and  fruit 
in  the  whiskey,  custom-house  and  other  disgraceful 
scandals. 

1S58-0  was  an  uneventful  period.  James  W.  Xye  was 
President  of  the  Metro})olitan  police.    James  S.  T.  Stran- 


40 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


ahan  was  the  Brooklyn  commissionei*  and  John  S.  Folk 
the  deputy -superintendent.  Business  was  prosperous 
and  immigration  on  the  increase.  This  heretofore  had 
been  chiefly  Irish,  with  a  sprinkling  of  English  and  Ger- 
man. It  had  slowly  changed  until  the  Irish  and  Ger- 
man were  almost  on  a  par.  Political  matters  were  daily 
more  and  more  involved.  The  Eepublican  party  was 
everywhere  developing  and  the  great  Democratic  organi- 
zation was  being  rapidly  rent  by  feuds  and  factions  of 
the  bitterest  type.  This  political  belligerency  was  every- 
where and  notably  increased  the  duties  and  labors  of  the 
•police.  The  new  Brooklyn  commissioner,  Mr.  Strana- 
han,  proved  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  Board.  His 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  two  cities,  his  noteworthy 
executive  ability,  his  far-sightedness,  probity  and  wis- 
dom made  him  a  power  there  as  it  had  and  has  since 
done  elsewhere.  It  may  be  added  at  this  point  that 
Brooklyn  has  had  no  more  remarkable  citizen  than 
James  S.  T.  Stranahan.  He  was  a  local  power  long  be- 
fore the  great  majority  of  the  readers  of  these  lines  were 
born ;  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  inception  of  nearly 
every  local  institution  of  prominence,  in  the  development 
of  the  many  municipal  improvements  and  in  the  fur- 
therance of  every  patriotic  and  public- spirited  effort. 
His  wonderful  power  of  overcoming  apparently  insur- 
mountable difficulties  has  more  than  earned  him  his 
sobriquet  of  ^'wizard"  and  ''magician."  If  the  bene- 
factors of  a  community  are  to  receive  public  recognition, 
Brooklyn  will  erect  his  statue  in  living  bronze  upon 
some  knoll  in  Prospect  Park,  which  he  made  a  reality, 
looking  over  the  miles  of  roofs  and  streets  below  of  the 
great  city  he  loved  so  well. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


41 


111  1S()0  Brooklyn  was  still  rapidly  growing.  It  had 
nineteen  wards  and  a  population  of  two  hundred 
and  sixty-six  thousand.  The  Tenth  Ward  included 
the  present  Third  and  Tenth  Wards ;  the  Ninth, 
the  present  Ninth,  Twenty-fourth,  Twenty-first,  Twenty- 
third  and  Twenty-fifth  ;  the  Seventh,  the  present  Seventh 
and  Twentieth.  These  new  wards  that  were  then  thinly- 
settled  farming  country  are  now  densely  populated  and 
contain  at  least  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  souls. 

The  Pohce  Department  was  still  conducted  as  a  part 
of  the  Metropolitan  police  system.  Thomas  R.  B.  Still- 
man  was  President  of  the  Board,  Isaac  H.  Bailey  (Rafter- 
wards-  Collector)  a  Commissioner,  and  John  S.  Folk, 
Deputy-Superintendent  for  Kings  County.  WiUiam  H. 
Folk,  at  present  captain  of  the  Twelfth  Precinct,  was 
clerk.  The  civil  war  opened  a  new  era  for  the  police  as 
weU  as  the  nation.  Many  volunteered  and  made  noble 
records  for  themselves  in  the  Union  armies.  Others 
assisted  in  the  never-to-be-measured  work  done  by  the 
people  at  home  for  the  success  of  the  troops  in  the  field. 
The  possibility  of  insurrection  in  the  city,  of  mutiny  in 
the  Navy  Yard  and  the  camps  and  of  war  with  foreign 
nations,  the  unrest  and  uneasiness  of  the  nation,  the 
fictitious  luxury  and  the  dissipation  and  depravity  all 
acted  to  put  the  force  upon  their  guard  and  make  them 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  any  emergency.  Only 
once  in  the  long  four  years  of  internecine  conflict  were 
they  called  upon  to  act.  That  was  during  the  draft  riots 
in  July,  1862.  The  horrors  perpetrated  in  the  adjoining 
city  of  New  York  seemed  about  to  be  copied  in  Brook- 
lyn ;  the  same  ignorant  and  ruthless  elements  were 
ready  and  eager  to  break  out  in .  revolution,  but  the.  iron 


42 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


determination  of  Folk  and  the  municipal  authorities  and 
above  all  the  superb  courage  and  discipline  of  the  police 
saved  Brooklyn  from  scenes  v^hich  baffle  all  description. 

The  war  and  the  necessity  for  economy,  in  order  to 
meet  the  ever-increasing  expenses  of  the  municipality, 
had  cut  down  the  muster-roll  of  the  police,  so  that  in 
1864  it  amounted  to  only  two  hundred  and  eighty- seven 
men.  The  folly  and  inefficiency  of  the  Metropolitan 
Police  District  Law  was  in  the  meantime  making  itself 
felt.  Appointments,  which  were  of  the  poorest  and  most 
objectionable  character,  were  made  to  the  force  and 
charged  to  Brooklyn,  in  order  to  placate  or  purchase  New 
York  and  out-of-town  politicians.  In  some  instances, 
these  new  appointees  could  scarcely  read  nor  write,  had 
not  been  in  the  country  long  enough  to  legally  vote,  and 
knew  nothing  of  New  York  law  or  Brooklyn  geography. 
The  administration  being  across  the  East  Eiver,  valuable 
time  of  officers  and  patrolmen  was  wastefully  consumed. 
The  machinery  of  so  cumbrous  an  organization  moved 
slowly,  so  that  requisitions  were  a  long  time  in  being 
filled  ;  improvements  and  reforms  in  being  acted  upon  ; 
supplies  in  being  forwarded  ;  and  information  in  being 
afforded  to  those  whom  it  most  concerned.  During  the 
thirteen  years  in  which  this  law  was  in  force,  the  Brook- 
lyn civic  authorities  knew  about  as  much  of  their  own 
police  as  they  did  of  those  of  Chicago  or  any  other  dis- 
tant city.  No  reports  were  made  to  the  Mayor,  and  no 
local  record  was  either  made  or  preserved.  The  future 
historian  of  that  period  will  find  his  material  not  in 
Brooklyn  archives,  but  in  the  Mulberry  Street  headquar- 
ters or  in  the  musty  archives  of  the  Capitol  at  Albany. 
Despite  the  earnest  opposition  of  all  good  citizens  irre- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  48 

spective  of  party  lines,  the  politicians  still  found  the  sys- 
tem of  use  and  continued  its  existence.  Little  did 
Tweed,  Callicut  and  their  coparceners  dream  that  the 
machine  they  were  so  carefully  tending  and  strengthen- 
ing would  some  day  destroy  them  in  its  irresistible  ac- 
tion. 

In  18C)C)  the  force  w^as  slightly  increased,  and  many 
improvements  made  upon  the  headquarters  and  station 
houses.  An  appropriate  and  very  handsome  building 
was  erected  on  Gates  Avenue,  near  Marcy,  for  the  Forty- 
ninth  Precinct,  and  plans  and  other  arrangements  made 
for  similar  edifices  in  other  parts  of  the  city.  In  May, 
the  headquarters  were  moved  from  the  basement  of  the 
City  "Hall  to  what  is  now  the  Clarendon  Hotel,  at  the 
corner  of  Washington  and  Johnson  Streets.  These 
changes  were  but  parts  in  the  great  system  of.  local  im- 
provements, many  of  which  were  extravagant,  a  few 
dishonest  and  corrupt,  but  all  of  which  were  necessitated 
by  the  wonderful  growth  of  the  municipality,  and  the 
impoi-tant  future  near  at  hand,  when  Brooklyn  should 
have  three-quarters  of  a  million  inhabitants.  The  im- 
provements contemplated  the  repairing  of  the  great  thor- 
oughfares with  more  modern  and  scientific  materials  ; 
the  creation  and  development  of  Prospect  Park  ;  the  ex- 
tension of  the  Nassau  Water  Department  ;  the  sewering 
of  all  the  streets  ;  the  construction  of  storm  sewers  ;  the 
erection  of  a  handsome  court  house  and  a  larger  jail  ; 
the  setting  apart  of  a  parade  and  drill-ground  ;  and  the 
construction  of  a  market  in  the  WaUabout  and  of  elegant 
armories  in  different  parts  of  the  city.  Now  after  a  lapse 
of  twenty  years,  and  after  all  these  changes  have  been 
effected,  and  when  the  city  is  fast  speeding  toward  a 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


population  of  a  full  million,  we  can  see  and  appreciate 
the  wisdom  and  statesmanship  of  the  men  by  whom  they 
were  planned,  and  the  efficiency  and  good  work  of  the 
subordinates  through  whom  they  were  realized. 

On  July  IS,  1867,  the  Hon.  John  G.  Bergen,  one  of  the 
Metropolitan  Police  Commissioners,  died.  He  was  fifty- 
three  years  old,  and  had  occupied  his  official  position  the 
last  eight  years  of  his  life.  His  death  was  mourned  by 
the  police,  to  whom  he  had  always  been  a  kind  friend 
and  generous  governor,  and  by  the  public,  of  which  he 
had  been  a  good  and  faithful  servant. 

Mr.  Bergen  belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest  and  best 
known  Knickerbocker  families  of  Long  Island,  a  family 
that  has  been  prominent  in  local  affairs  for  more  than  a 
century.  In  more  recent  years  it  has  been  well  repre- 
sented in  23ublic  affairs  by  the  late  Surrogate  Jacob  I. 
Bergen,  ex- Judge  Garrett  C.  Bergen,  ex- Assemblyman 
John  H.  Bergen,  Counselors  Edgar  Bergen,  James  C. 
Bergen,  Tunis  G.  Bergen,  all  talented  lawyers,  and  Cor- 
nelius Bergen,  a  retired  merchant.  The  family  gives  its 
name  to  Bergen  Street,  one  of  the  oldest  thoroughfares 
of  South  Brooklyn. 

In  1869  the  Board  of  Metropolitan  Police  was  reor- 
ganized. Thomas  C.  Acton  resigned  the  office  of  Com- 
missioner on  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  and  on  the  same 
day  he  was  succeeded  by  Henry  Smith,  familiarly  known 
in  politics  as  Hank  Smith,  who  was  also  elected  to  the 
position  of  Treasurer  of  Police  in  place  of  Commissioner 
Brennan,  resigned.  Commissioner  Joseph  S.  Bosworth 
was  elected  President  of  the  Board.  In  Brooklyn  two 
sub-precincts,  one  between  the  Forty-sixth  and  Forty- 
ninth  precincts,  and  the  other  near  the  Forty-third  pre- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


45 


cinct  in  South  Brooklyn,  were  created,  and  the  police^ 
force  correspondingly  increased  until  it  numbered  four 
hundred  and  forty-six  men.  A  feature  of  interest  that 
now  begins  to  appear  in  the  police  I'eports  is  the  number 
of  nightly  lodgers.  In  the  beginning  of  the  practice  of 
giving  lodging  at  the  station  houses  those  who  applied 
were  workingmen  out  of  a  job,  the  sick,  disabled  and 
the  indigent  aged.  So  far  as  these  are  concerned,  the 
practice  was  and  is  a  noble  charity.  But  Avith  the  war 
everything  changed.  They  diminished  in  number,  while 
on  the  other  hand  a  class  composed  of  tramps,  drunk- 
ards, sneak-thieves  and  vagabonds  sprang  into  being  and 
grew  with  ominous  rapidity.  By  degrees  the  lodging- 
rooms  of  the  station  houses  became  such  scenes  of  filth 
and  horror,  such  hot-beds  of  vermin  and  disease  that 
people  with  any  self-respect  or  sense  of  decency  left, 
rather  than  cross  their  thresholds,  preferred  to  walk 
the  streets  all  night,  beg  for  the  pittance  necessary  to 
secure  a  cot  in  some  ten-cent  hotel,"  or  even  to  commit 
some  insignificant  offence  and  so  be  placed  in  a  cell. 
To-day  their  inmates  are  even  worse  than  just  after  the 
war-times.  They  are,  as  a  class,  so  low  and  depraved 
that  their  proper  resort  is  the  workhouse  or  the  peni- 
tentiary. 

On  the  fifth  of  April,  1870,  the  State  Legislature 
passed  a  bill  making  the  Police  Department  in  the  city 
of  Brooklyn  an  independent  organization,  and  on  the 
twenty-eighth  of  April  the  Common  Council  appointed 
Daniel  D.  Briggs  and  Isaac  Van  Anden,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Eagle,  as  Police  Commissioners.  On  the 
first  of  May  following  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Police 
was  held,  and  Commissioner  Briggs  was  chosen  Presi- 


4G  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

dent,  and  in  June  John  S.  Folk,  formerly  Inspector  under 
the  Metropolitan  Police  system,  was  superseded  by  the 
appointment  of  Patrick  Campbell,  ex-Sheriff  of  Kings 
County,  as  Chief  of  Police.  The  building  on  the  corner 
of  Washington  and  Johnson  Streets  having  been  found 
unfit  for  use,  new  headquarters  were  established  at  Court 
and  Livingston  Streets.  The  vast  majority  of  the  police 
force,  composed  of  men  who  had  been  appointed  by  and 
had  served  under  the  Metropolitan  Police  Commission, 
as  well  as  several  of  the  old  sergeants  and  captains,  were 
retained  by  the  Board,  regardless  of  political  sentiments, 
and  all  the  station  houses  were  re-numbered.  The  fol- 
lowing year  the  telegraph  department,  which  was  under 
the  direction  of  George  H.  Flanley,  was  greatly  im- 
proved in  efficiency  and  extended  so  as  to  cover  the  en- 
tire city.  Messages  could  now  be  sent  to  one  or  all  the 
station  houses  simultaneously,  and  alarms  of  fire,  re- 
ported from  any  police  station,  w^ere  instantaneously 
communicated  to  every  engine  house  in  the  city  and  to 
the  Fire  Commissioners,  while  at  the  same  time  the  cap- 
tain of  the  precinct  in  w^hich  the  conflagration  occurred 
was  also  notified  in  order  that  a  reserve  force  might  be 
in  attendance  at  the  fire.  As  a  result  of  this  improve- 
ment Fire  Marshal  Thorne  said  :  ^'Its  immediate  result 
has  been  the  earlier  attack  upon  the  fire  by  the  firemen 
and  before  the  flames  have  gained  their  headway ;  bet- 
ter order  of  the  crowd  always  attracted  on  such  occa- 
sions and  less  interference  by  them  with  the  firemen,^ 
police  and  insurance  officials.  The  secondary  results  are 
the  speedier  extinguishing  of  the  fire,  a  handsome  redu^s- 
tion  in  the  average  loss,  far  less  strain  and  exhaustion 
on  the  part  of  the  firemen  and  the  engines  and  much 


^  BROOKLYN  S  (U'ARDI  AXS.  47 

greater  security  for  the  city.  The  only  suggestion  that 
can  he  made  in  the  premises  is  that  the  system  he  ex- 
tended and,  if  possible,  improved."  As  Avill  he  later 
seen,  this  has  heen  accomplished  in  many  and  valuable 
ways. 

In  1872  the  Board  of  Police  was  again  reorganized. 
The  Mayor  reappointed  Daniel  D.  Briggs  to  the  office  of 
Commissioner,  and  General  James  Jourdan  and  Sigis- 
mund  Kaufman  were  selected  by  the  Comptroller  and 
Auditor  for  similar  positions,  thus  making  an  addition 
of  one  Commissioner  to  the  Board.  This  change  was 
also  the  result  of  political  causes.  The  Mayor  and  the 
Municipal  Administration  in  IS 70  were  Democratic,  and 
the  Commissioners  appointed,  Messrs.  Briggs  and  Van 
Anden,  were  of  the  same  political  faith.  In  1872  the 
Mayoralty  was  unchanged  politically,  while  the  State 
Government  was  Republican.  To  cut  off  their  oppo- 
nents' use  of  the  patronage  of  the  department  and  to 
enjoy  it  themselves  exclusively,  was  the  dream  of  every 
Republican  politician.  A  bill  was  accordingly  framed 
and  passed  whereby  the  commission  was  made  three  in 
number,  of  whom  the  Mayor  (Democrat)  appointed  one, 
and  the  Auditor  and  Comptroller  (Republican  in  1872) 
appointed  two.  The  Board  thus  formed  was  Republican 
in  character  and  action.  Justice  demands,  however,  the 
declaration  that  the  two  Republican  Commissioners,  how- 
ever partisan  in  private  life,  never  permitted  party  lines 
to  interfere  with  the  rightful  discharge  of  their  duties. 
In  spite  of  the  threats  and  denunciations  of  ward  leaders 
and  worthless  office-seekers,  they  conducted  the  police 
department  so  Avisely  and  well  as  to  gain  the  approbation 
of  the  entire  press  and  the  praise  and  gratitude  of  all 


48 


bhooklyn's  guardians. 


good  citizens.  If  there  be  any  two  men  in  the  long  hne 
of  Brooklyn's  public  officials  who  deserve  honorable 
mention  for  faithfulness  and  efficiency  in  municipal 
work,  they  are  Police  Commissioner  General  James 
Jourdan  and  Clerk  of  the  Board,  Colonel  Samuel  Eich- 
ards. 

James  Jourdan  was  made  president,  Daniel  D.  Briggs, 
treasurer,  and  Samuel  Richards,  chief  clerk.  Commis- 
sioner Kaufman  resigned  on  December  31,  1872.  On  the 
twenty-seventh  of  May,  Patrick  Campbell,  though  a 
sturdy  Democrat,  was  reappointed  Chief  of  Police,  and 
John  S.  Folk  was  made  Inspector.  Additions  and  im- 
provements were  made  to  the  telegraph  department,  so 
that  direct  communications  could  be  had  with  the  head- 
quarters of  the  New  York  City  police,  and  also  with  all 
the  engine-houses  and  bell-towers  of  the  fire  department 
of  this  city.  The  office  of  the  Department  of  City  Works, 
their  pipe  yard,  engine-house  and  reservoir  at  Ridge- 
wood,  were  also  j)ut  in  communication  with  their  central 
office.  The  lines  used  by  the  department  at  this  date 
were  thirty  miles  long,  and  during  the  year  conveyed 
twenty-five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-six  mes- 
sages. The  most  important  event  in  the  year's  record 
was  the  murder  of  Patrolman  John  Donahoe,  of  the 
Fifth  Precinct  Station  House,  on  the  night  of  July  Y,  by 
Henry  Rodgers.  Donahoe  left  the  station  on  Fourth 
Street,  near  North  First,  shortly  after  twelve  o'clock 
Saturday  night,  for  patrol  duty.  On  his  post  was  the 
saloon  of  Hugh  McGoldrick,  at  101  North  First  Street. 
It  was  known  as  Crow's  Gin  Mill,"  and  bore  an  unsav- 
ory reputation.  The  patrolman  on  several  occasions  had 
arrested  some  of  the  frequenters  of  the  place,  and  was 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


49 


well  aware  that  they  liad  a  sj)ite  against  him,  which 
boded  him  no  good.  The  ronghs  talked  the  matter  over, 
and  agreed  to  "lay  the  officer  out  "  at  the  first  opportu- 
nity. On  several  evenings  they  laid  in  wait  for  him,  but 
either  from  the  presence  of  strangers  or  other  police  took 
no  action.  On  the  night  in  question,  thirteen  of  the 
gang  assembled  in  front  of  the  groggery  to  wait  for  the 
patrolman.  Rodgers,  who  headed  the  crowd,  was  armed 
with  a  heavy  cart-rung.  Upon  Donahoe's  approach  the 
men  began  singing  vulgar  songs,  and  the  patrolman 
coming  up,  ordered  them  to  cease,  as  the  noise  they  made 
disturbed  the  neighborhood.  He  then  turned  to  walk 
away,  when  Eodgers  raised  the  cart-rung  in  both  hands 
and  brought  it  down  with  deadly  force  on  the  head  of 
Donahoe,  who  fell  to  the  sidewalk  unconscious.  The 
murderer  again  struck  the  prostrate  officer  another  heavy 
blow,  which  broke  the  rung  into  pieces  and  ended  the 
life  of  Donahoe.  The  patrolman  was  left  lying  in  the 
street,  and  was  discovered  by  Officers  Cantrell  and 
Travers,  who  procured  a  wagon  and  brought  him  to  the 
station.  The  murderer  was  in  the  midst  of  the  crowd 
that  surrounded  the  wagon  on  its  way  to  the  station- 
house.  His  excited  actions  were  noticed,  and  he  was 
arrested,  tried  and  convicted,  and  on  the  sixth  of  De- 
cember, the  same  year,  was  hanged. 

In  1874  James  Jourdan  succeeded  himself,  and  James 
L.  Jensen,  a  wealthy  Williamsbm*g  manufacturer,  was 
made  associate-commissioner.  At  this  time  Joel  Smith 
was  captain  of  the  First  Precinct.  The  station  house 
was  situated  on  Washington  Street,  near  Johnson ; 
Lewis  Worth  commanded  the  Second  Precinct  at  York 
and  Jay  Streets  ;  Daniel  Ferry  the  Third,  at  19  Butler 


50 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Street,  near  Court ;  Eufus  W.  Crafts  the  Foiirtn,  on  the 
corner  of  Myrtle  and  Vanderbilt  Avenues  ;  Cornehus 
Woglom  the  Fifth  at  North  First  and  Fourth  Streets ; 
WiUiam  J.  Kaiser  the  Sixth,  on  the  corner  of  Stagg  and 
Morrell  Streets  ;  George  R.  Rhodes  the  Seventh,  at  Union 
and  Greenpoint  Avenues  ;  John  MacKehar  the  Eighth, 
at  530  Fifth  Avenue,  between  Thirteenth  and  Fourteenth 
Street ;  Patrick  H.  McLaughhn  the  Ninth,  on  Gates 
Avenue  near  Marcy  ;  James  Campbeh  the  Tenth,  Ber- 
gen Street  and  Sixth  Avenue  ;  Thomas  J.  Cornell  the 
Eleventh,  on  the  corner  of  Van  Brunt  and  Seibert  Streets, 
and  Oliver  B.  Leich  the  Twelfth,  on  Fulton  Street  near 
Schenectady  Avenue.  George  Arnold  Buckholz  was 
Commanding-Sergeant  of  the  Sixth  Sub-Precinct  on 
Flushing  Avenue  ;  Smith  Hall  at  the  Eighth  Sub  on  the 
corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  Forty-second  Street,  and 
Tredwell  C.  Wilmarth  at  the  Ninth  Sub,  Green  Avenue 
and  Broadway.  Of  these  Daniel  Ferry  was  subsequently 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  proved  an  efficient,  able 
and  worthy  magistrate. 

In  1875  another  change  in  the  heads  of  the  depart- 
ments was  made.  Daniel  D.  Briggs  was  made  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  to  succeed  James 
Jourdan,  and  John  Pyburn  and  William  B.  Hurd  were 
appointed  Commissioners  in  place  of  James  Jourdan  and 
James  L.  Jensen. 

A  feature  of  the  police  reports  now  begins  to  attract 
attention,  and  that  is  the  large  percentage  of  stolen  prop- 
erty recovered  from  thieves.  In  1875  one  hundred  and 
sixty -nine  thousand  dollars  worth  is  recovered  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  worth  stolen, 
while  in  18 7G  ninety-seven  thousand  dollars  is  rescued 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  51 

from  one  hundred  and  two  thousand  dollars  worth  re- 
ported taken.  This  is  less  than  six  per  cent,  nnrecovered 
and  is  a  curious  commentary  upon  the  skill  and  system 
of  the  police  and  the  detectives  and  on  the  ill-success  that 
attaches  to  crime.  Much  of  it  is  due  to  an  organic 
change  in  the  training  of  detectives.  He  of  the  olden 
time  knew  criminals  as  a  terrier  does  a  rat,  something  to 
be  hunted.  He  of  the  new  school  is  taught  to  know 
them  personally,  socially,  politically  and  every  way  in 
which  they  can  be  of  use  to  him.  Nothing  better  illus- 
trates the  new  relationship  between  criminals  and  the 
police  than  the  curious  features  of  police  work.  Whether 
there  are  or  not  any  such  detectives  as  Vidocq  is  a  ques- 
tion, but  there  is  no  question  that  the  conditions  under 
which  our  Vidocqs  work  are  wholly  different  from  the 
conditions  that  gave  the  great  Frenchman  a  chance  to 
display  his  ability.  Xo  longer  is  it  the  case  that  the  head 
of  a  detective  force,  upon  being  confronted  with  a  mys- 
terious crime,  picks  out  a  man  in  his  command  and  says: 
' '  Robinson,  here  is  a  penknife  and  a  pair  of  rubbers  left 
by  a  mysterious  murderer  ;  take  them  and  track  him 
down. That  was  the  old  way  l^it  still  is  in  the  country ), 
and  a  man  had  to  be  a  Vidocq  to  do  the  work.  Persons 
nowadays  who  think  the  romantic  detective  work  of 
fiction  and  the  stage  are  like  the  work  of  to-day  marvel 
greatly  when  they  see  a  stupid-looking,  coarse,  clumsy 
fellow,  such  as  some  Xew  York  detectives  are,  and  say  to 
themselves  :  "Is  it  possible  that  such  a  man  can  play  as 
many  parts  as  a  great  actor  and  possesses  a  mind  both 
broad  and  subtle,  capable  of  Vidocq-s  work  C  Nonsense  ! 
Xo.  It  is  only  once  in  a  while  that  such  a  genius  is 
needed,  and  then  if  he  is  not  on  hand  we  get  along  with- 


52  Brooklyn's  guakdiaxs. 

out  him,  and  add  another  crime  to  the  hst  of  mysteries, 
a  la  Burdell,  a  la  Nathan,  a  la  Eoss,  and  a  la  Stewart's 
body.  The  basis  of  detective  work  now  is  the  acquaint- 
ance of  detectives  with  criminals.  Every  such  fine  tooth 
combing  as  this  one  just  finished  enlarges  that  acquaint- 
ance and  makes  it  deeper.  It's  frightfully  dull  and  pro- 
saic, but  it's  found  to  be  practical  and  reasonably 
efficient. 

Thus,  for  example,  a  crime  is  committed  on  the  Heights 
and  reported  the  next  morning  to  Chief  Campbell.  He 
himself  is  a  trained  detective,  and  has  a  wide  knowledge 
of  criminals  and  their  methods.  Besides  this,  he  has 
other  and  greater  powers.  He  has  around  him  six  detec- 
tives and  more  than  thirty  others  distributed  through  the 
precincts.  If  he  so  desires,  one  tap  upon  the  bell  will 
bring  them  all  before  him.  All  are  ambitious.  A  first- 
class  record  means  popularity,  with  probable  promotion 
and  possible  appointment  to  higher  municipal  offices. 
Frequently  it  means  heavy  remuneration  from  a  grateful 
sufferer,  whose  property  is  returned  to  him.  One  success 
means  many  more.  Crooks  and  malefactors  come  to 
have  an  instinctive  terror  of  famous  detectives,  and  make 
confessions  and  do  things  that  seem  incredible  to  private 
citizens. 

Chief  Campbell  thinks  the  matter  over  a  few  minutes, 
and  then  summons  his  lieutenants  from  the  detectives' 
room.  He  states  the  facts  briefly,  and  then  says,  ' '  Zundt, 
where  is  Red  Leary  now  ?  Still  down  at  Fort  Hamilton  ? 
And  what  is  he  doing  now  "  ? 

^'  About  the  same  old  racket,  I  believe.  He  was  there 
once  last  week,  but  only  for  a  short  time.  He's  stopping 
at  a  private  boarding-house  in  Twenty-sixth  Street  under 


^  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  53 

an  alias,  and  has  been  ratlier  lianl  up  tlie  past  three 
weeks." 

"  You'd  better  go  over  and  see  what  he's  been  doing 
the  past  ninety-six  hours.  Mr.  Looney,  run  over  and  see 
Draper's  woman  and  the  crowd  that  hangs  out  there.  By 
the  way,  where's  Cigarette  Harry  ? " 

Off  my  books  now  for  eighteen  months.  Got  two 
years  in  Buffalo  for  shoving  the  queer.  His  opium-joint 
is  closed,  but  the  mob  has  a  new  one  in  Baxter  Bend, 
down  town,  and  one  in  Great  Jones  Street.  Most  of 
them  ai'e  w(^rking  sawdust,  under  Barney  ^laguire.  Fat 
Charlie  Johnson  and  '  the  Doctor.'  " 

"All  right  ;  take  them  in  also.  Mahoney,  report  to 
Inspector  Byrnes,  ^\ith  my  compliments,  and  work  Sixth 
Avenue  and  Thirty-first  Street.  Powers,  you'll  take  the 
sporting  houses  on  the  East  side." 

A  prodigious  amount  of  knowledge  is  gained  and  kept 
up  in  this  way.  Give  each  man  several  subjects,  as  each 
one  has,  and  the  result  is  that  there  is  not  a  professional 
in  town  who  camiot  be  located  in  an  hour  if  he  is  in  town, 
or  tracked  if  out  of  town.  This  knowledge  embraces  a 
close  acquaintance  with  the  habits  of  the  crooks,  their 
mistresses,  friends,  the  liquor  stores  and  gambling  hells 
they  frequent,  the  fences  where  they  borrow  when  hard 
up,  and  the  lines  of  work  on  which  they  operate,  as  well 
as  the  gangs  they  operate  ^\ath.  It  is  said  that  our  city 
detectives  know  all  this  absolutely.  Professional  crimi- 
nals are  always  spoken  respectfully  of  by  the  police  as 
good  men. 

'*  Good  men,"  said  Superintendent  Campbell,  "  will  do 
anything  rather  than  shoot  when  they  are  cracking  a 
place.    They  will  give  up  the  job,  run  away,  or  even  take 


54 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


a  beating  before  they  will  pull  a  trigger.  It  is  only  when 
they  are  cornered  and  see  a  long  sentence  staring  them  in 
the  face  that  they  will  commit  an  assault,  and  then  they 
prefer  not  to  kill. " 

President  Daniel  D.  Briggs,  of  the  Board  of  Police  Com- 
missioners, died  on  the  third  of  July,  1876,  and  James 
Jourdan  was  selected  to  fill  the  position.  Three  days 
after  the  death  of  Mr.  Briggs,  Patrolman  Edward  Scott, 
of  the  Fourth  Precinct,  was  murdered  by  a  member  of 
the  "  Jackson  Hollow  Gang."  Jackson  Hollow  "  was 
the  remnant  of  an  old  farm  in  the  very  heart  of  the  fash- 
ionable district  on  the  Hill.  Through  long  and  tedious 
litigation,  similar  to  that  depicted  by  Dickens  in  Jarndyce 
vs.  Jarndyce,  it  became  tied  up  and  useless.  Squatters 
settled  upon  it,  who  paid  no  rent  and  who  defied  both  the 
Board  of  Health  and  the  police.  It  graduated  a  numer- 
ous brood  of  criminals  and  fallen  women,  who  made  a 
miserable  livelihood  by  preying  upon  their  respecta'ble 
neighbors.  Their  numerous  petty  crimes  and  depraved 
conduct  made  them  a  terror  to  that  part  of  the  city.  The 
killing  of  Officer  Scott  culminated  their  infamous  career, 
and  terminated  it  at  the  same  time.  Though  the  actual 
murderer  was  not  actually  ascertained,  yet  the  crime  was 
fastened  upon  a  group  who  underwent  various  terms  of 
imprisonment.  Their  murderous  character  once  estab- 
lished, they  received  no  mercy  from  the  police.  On  the 
slightest  pretext  they  were  ari'ested,  and  as  the  Courts 
shared  the  same  feelings,  their  pettiest  offences  received 
the  severest  penalties  allowed  by  the  statutes.  Thus  they 
were  rapidly  decimated  and  finally  driven  away.  1876 
was  marked  by  blood  in  many  ways.  Patrolman  Patrick 
McKeon,   attached    to  the  Central  (Office  Squad,  on 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


55 


the  night  of  December  r)th  met  his  death  while  endeavor- 
ing to  save  hfe  at  a  fire  in  the  Brooklyn  Theatre. 
Officer  Lawrence  J.  Phelan  died  on  Wednesday, 
December  27th,  from  injuries  received  while  in  the 
exercise  of  the  functions  of  his  office.  The  most  import- 
ant case  that,  came  under  the  notice  of  the  police  was  tlie 
murder  of  Sara  Alexander  by  Pesach  N.  Rubenstein  on 
December  12,  IS 75.  Rubenstein  escaped  after  committing 
the  crime,  but  on  the  fourth  of  January  following  was 
arrested  and  arraigned  on  the  charge.  On  February  12 
the  murderer  was  found  guilty,  and  was  sentenced  to  be 
hanged  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  March.  A  stay  of  pro- 
ceedings was  afterwards  granted,  but  death  intervened, 
and  sent  the  prisoner  to  a  higher  tribunal.  Following 
close  upon  the  Alexander  murder  was  that  of  William 
W.  Simmons,  who  was  killed  by  Andreas  Fuchs.  The 
murder  was  rendered  the  more  horrible  by  the  fiendish 
malice  of  the  assassin.  After  killing  Simmons,  he  cold- 
bloodedly dissected  the  corpse,  burning  some  of  the  pieces, 
nailing  others  to  the  w^alls  and  ceiling  of  his  cellar,  and 
treating  the  remainder  as  so  much  offal.  Fuchs  was 
arrested,  tried,  found  guilty  and  sentenced  April  11  to  be 
hanged  on  the  second  day  of  June.  His  sentence  was 
afterwards  commuted  to  imprisonment  for  life.  Another 
crime  was  the  robbery  of  the  Fulton  Bank  on  the  tw^en- 
tieth  of  March  by  Beriali  P.  Rogers.  Rogers  got  as  far 
as  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  where  he  w^as  captured  by  De- 
tectives Corwin  and  Folk,  and  brought  back  to  justice. 
The  thief  was  indicted,  tried,  convicted  and  sent  to 
the  Kings  County  Penitentiary  for  a  term  of  years.  Dur- 
ing the  month  of  March,  1876,  occurred  a  case  of  singular 
mistaken  identification  of  the  body  of  a  drow^ned  man. 


66 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


It  was  said  to  have  been  Captain  Hamlin,  of  Maine,  who 
had  been  long  missing.  Hamlin  had  a  large  insurance 
on  his  life,  and  cei'tain  parties  insisted  that  the  body 
found  was  his,  going  so  far  as  to  make  af!iidavit  to  that 
effect.  The  police  would  not  believe  such  was  the  case, 
and  telegrams  were  sent  all  over  the  country  to  see  if 
Hamlin  could  be  discovered.  He  was  finally  found  to  be 
living  in  California,  in  good  health.  The  jewelry  store  of 
Lewis  Bijou,  on  the  thirteenth  of  March,  was  robbed  of 
a  large  amount  of  valuables.  The  affair  was  mysterious, 
but  the  thief  was  finally  captured  and  sent  to  prison. 
The  keeping  track,  and  final  arrest  in  San  Francisco,  of 
Thomas  Hallienen,  the  murderer  of  William  Pursell  at 
Harbeck's  stores  in  June,  1871,  is  but  another  evidence  of 
the  ability  attendant  upon  the  management  of  the  force 
during  the  year. 


CHAFER  IV. 


History  from  1877  to  1884. 


Manufactories  Encroach  upon  Homes  Especially  in  the  River- 
Wards. — The  Brooklyn  Bank  Embezzlement. — A  Colossal  Bribe. 
— Two  Faithful  Detectives. — A  Wealthy  Suicide. — A  Mounted 
Officer  Dies  in  Doing  his  Duty. — Heroic  Gus  Weisman. — Com- 
missioners Ward  and  White. — The  Deadly  Kerosene  Lamp. — 
Bureau  of  Combustibles. — Brooklyn's  Superb  Moral  Condition 
in  1878. — A  Fire-bug  Caught  and  Caged  — Narrow  Escape  of 
Work-people. — Two  Burglars  Attempt  to  Kill  an-  Officer. — 
The  Planet  Mills  Highwaymen  put  Behind  Bars. — A  Murder 
Traced  by  Pig-iron. — A  Blot  on  the  Police-escutcheon. — Bill 
Blake  Hammers  the  Life  Out  of  Patrick  White. — Traced  by 
His  Hat.— Pyburn  and  Leich  Assume  the  Purple.— ^Ieyners 
Assassinates  Patrick  INIcDermott. — Tarantino  Carves  Mattino 
with  a  Razor. — Two  Gangs  Broken  Up. — Steers  and  Colell,  the 
New  Commissioners. — The  Murder  of  Officer  Stone. — Oster- 
meyer  Hacks  his  Wife. — Killed  by  a  Billiard-cue. — James  Walsh 
Crazed  with  Love  and  Liquor  Kills  his  Sweetheart  and  is 
Hung. — Detective  Chambers  Nearly  Killed. — Becker  the 
Queer. — Lauer  and  Evans  Come  into  Power, — A  Child  Kid- 
napped.— Kenny  Kills  Lennon. — Assorted  Murders. — The  Nar- 
row Escape  of  Brave  Detectives  Looney  and  Carr. 

EFORE  THE  ''  Seventies,"  Brooklyn  was  essentially 
a  city  of  homes.  What  little  business  it  did  was 
supphed  by  retail  stores,  breweries,  a  few  factories  and 
storehouses.  The  crowding  of  Manhattan  Island  and  the 
consequent  excessive  appreciation  of  value  of  real  estate 
soon  called  attention  to  the  sparsely-populated  giant  sub- 
urb, and  notably  to  the  latter's  low  rents  and  superb  ac- 
commodations. As  a  result,  population  and  capital 
began  to  flow  across  the  river  in  ever-growing  amounts. 


58 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


Building  was  done  upon  a  large  scale,  and  all  along  the 
extended  water-front  and  the  banks  of  Newtown  Creek 
and  the  Gowanus  Canal,  were  started  new  manufactories, 
warehouses  and  wholesale  places  of  business.  The  in- 
crease of  commercial  and  municipal  activity  was  accom- 
panied by  a  corresponding  increase  of  crime  and  crim- 
inals. From  now  on  increased  work  is  thrown  upon  the 
police  ;  from  time  to  time  accessions  are  made  to  the 
force,  and  new  precincts  and  sub -precincts  established  ; 
but  each  increase  soon  proves  inadequate  to  meet  the 
growing  demand  of  the  municipality. 

On  March  22,  1877,  a  report  was  received  at  head- 
quarters that  an  embezzlement  had  occurred  at  the 
Brooklyn  Bank.  Detectives  David  H.  Corwin  and  Ed- 
ward Looney,  two  of  the  best  men  in  the  department, 
were  detailed  on  the  case.  On  the  next  morning  all  the 
clues  had  been  followed  out  and  the  alleged  embezzler 
was  arrested.  When  the  detectives  were  taking  him  to 
the  station  house  he  offered  them  the  contents  of  a  small 
valise,  which  he  carried  in  his  hand,  if  they  would  per- 
mit him  to  j)roceed  unmolested.  The  bag  contained  the 
sum  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  three 
hundred  dollars  and  sixty-two  cents,  but  the  officers 
refused  the  bribe.  When  the  prisoner  was  brought 
to  headquarters  he  informed  the  Superintendent  that 
another  small  valise,  containing  moie  money,  could 
be  found  at  the  Van  Dyke  House  on  the  Bowery, 
New  York.  The  Superintendent  immediately  dispatched 
the  detectives  to  the  place  indicated.  The  valise  was 
secured,  and  upon  examination  of  its  contents  the 
sum  of  twenty-eight  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
fifty-six  dollars   was  found,   making  the  aggregate 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  59 

amount  recovered  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  thousand 
and  fifty-six  dollars  and  sixty-two  cents.  The  hank  lost 
only  ten  dollars,  and,  it  is  said,  paid  a  very  handsome 
reward  to  the  two  officers.  On  the  seventh  of  April,  1877, 
Patrolman  James  Hogan,  of  the  Second  Precinct,  found 
the  body  of  James  Howie  floating  in  the  East  River.  In  the 
pockets  of  the  drowned  man  was  the  sum  of  six  thous- 
and forty-four  dollars  and  sixty-two  cents,  which  w^as 
delivered  to  the  official  authorized  to  receive  the  same. 
How  death  was  caused,  whether  by  accident  or  suicide, 
was  never  determined  by  the  authorities.  Officer  John 
Thompson,  of  the  mounted  squad,  on  December  IS,  1877, 
was  killed  while  in  pursuit  of  a  runaway  horse,  attached 
to  a  grocer's  wagon,  on  Bedford  Avenue.  The  officer 
succeeded  in  getting  in  front  of  the  runaway  and 
endeav(  .red  to  turn  its  course  by  heroically  facing  the  in- 
furiated horse  ;  but,  instead  of  shying,  the  steed  kept 
right  on,  and  the  officer's  horse,  not  being  able  to  get  out 
of  the  way,  was  struck  in  the  flank  by  the  shaft  of  the 
wagon  with  such  force  that  it  entered  to  the  depth  of 
eight  inches,  the  shock  throwing  both  horse  and  rider  to 
the  ground,  killing  the  animal  and  crushing  the  man. 
Officer  Thompson  was  taken  to  the  City  Hospital  in  an 
unconscious  condition  and  died  shortly  afterwards. 
Officer  Gustavus  A.  Weismann,  of  the  same  squad, 
stopped  a  runaway  horse  at  the  corner  of  Bedford  Ave- 
nue and  Wilson  Street  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  May, 
the  same  year,  and  saved  the  lives  of  three  children  who 
were  in  the  wagon  attached  to  the  frightened  horse.  The 
deed  required  courage,  address  and  great  strength,  and 
wrenched  the  officer's  arm  so  severely  that  he  was  inca- 
pacitated for  many  days.    For  this  lieoric  act  Weismann 


00 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


was  presented  with  a  hancTsome  medal  by  the  Pohce 
Commissioners.  On  the  first  day  of  November,  1877, 
Eodney  C.  Ward  and  Thomas  P.  White  were  nominated 
for  the  office  of  Pohce  and  Excise  Commissioners  to  fill 
the  i^laces  of  John  Pyburn  and  William  B.  Hurd,  whose 
terms  of  office  had  expired. 

A  new  source  of  trouble  was  added  to  the  dangers  of 
civil  Hfe  and  the  labors  of  the  police  in  the  deadly  kero- 
sene lamp.  The  new  burning  fluid  had  become  universally 
popular.  Its  danger  was  overlooked  in  its  convenience, 
and  laughed  at  by  those  who  were  blinded  by  famili- 
arity. As  a  result  the  reckless  or  ignorant  would  fill 
lamps  with  the  inflammable  oil  in  the  immediate  pres- 
ence of  a  flame,  kindle  flres  with  it  and  even  brighten  up 
fires  that  were  in  full  combustion.  Besides  this  there 
were  at  the  time  almost  no  legal  restrictions  upon  its 
maimfacture  and  sale,  so  that  dishonest  makers  and 
dealers  threw  upon  the  market  vast  quantities  of  oil  so 
impure  or  adulterated  as  to  be  practically  naught  but 
liquid  gunpowder.  Eight  persons  were  killed,  fifty  in- 
jured and  over  two  hundred  fires  caused  by  either  the  reck- 
lessness or  the  use  of  impure  oils  in  1877  alone.  The  in- 
creased labor  thus  thrown  upon  the  police  resulted  in  the 
passage  and  enforcement  of  laws  and  ordinances,  where- 
by maufacturers  and  dealers  were  forbidden  to  sell  illu- 
minating oils  whose  fire-test  was  below  a  certain  legal 
temperature,  and  all  retailers  were  compelled  to  take  out 
licenses  before  they  could  traflic  in  goods  of  this  class. 
These  changes,  which  were  chiefly  due  to  General  Jame's 
Jourdan,  soon  created  a  large  clerical  business  and  a  de- 
partment, known  as  the  Bureau  of  Combustibles,  was 
set  apart  for  its  transaction.    This  relieved  the  police. 


^  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  61 

and  by  thorough  management  and  disciphne  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  closing  what  may  be  appropriately  termed  the 
''kerosene  period"  in  Brooklyn  history. 

Amid  the  long  and  tedious  rows  of  figures  in  the  pohce 
report  for  the  year  ending  November  30,  1878,  one  fact  is 
discovered  that  speaks  volumes  in  praise  for  the  depart- 
ment. It  is  that,  to  tlie  knoivledge  of  the  police^  not  one 
cjanihling  place,  house  of  ill-fame,  disorderly  place  or 
dance-house  existed  in  the  City  of  Brooklyn,  and  that  no 
crime  of  any  magnitude  had  been  committed  during  the 
year  hut  whose  perpetrator  was  under  arrest  or  convic- 
tio}i.  No  such  record  could  or  can  be  shown  by  any  city 
of  the  same  magnitude  in  the  world.  It  is  difficult  for 
the  private  citizen  to  realize  the  discipline,  knowledge, 
activity  and  work  on  the  part  of  the  police  which  the 
words  imj^ly.  Vice  and  crime  are  institutions  marked  by 
spontaneous  generation.  The  euchre-club  grows  imper- 
ceptibly into  the  poker-room,  and  this  into  the  faro  lay- 
out. The  woman  of  easy  virtue  rapidly  learns  the 
pecuniary  value  of  her  misconduct  and  eagerly  substi- 
stutes  Plutus  for  Cupid  as  the  presiding  deity  of  her 
apartments.  The  assembly-room  finds  that  there  is  a 
larger  crowd  and  a  more  remunerative  trade  when  its  en- 
tertainments are  spiced  with  salaciousness  than  with  de- 
corum and  respectabihty.  In  other  cities,  the  police  too 
often  wink  at  these  changes,  and  act  only  when  the 
transformation  has  reached  its  last  limit  and  the  place 
has  become  a  crying  scandal  and  a  public  nuisance. 

The  Brooklyn  police  step  in  at  the  first  moment  the 
law  allows,  and  prevent  the  subsequent  criminal  career. 
Unless  irretrievably  bad,  the  wrong-doers  receive  a  reahz- 
ing  proof  of  the  error  of  their  ways,  and  are  thus  turned 


62 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


frequently  from  what  would  otherwise  become  c*j  VICIOUS 
hfe. 

On  the  fifth  of  January,  ISTS,  Officer  Gustave  Feigen- 
baum,  Jr. ,  of  the  Fifth  Precinct,  arrested  Christian  Berg- 
hauser,  an  insane  German,  on  Wythe  Avenue.  In  his 
pockets  was  found  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars, 
which  he  had  embezzled  from  his  employer,  Urban 
Kneer,  doing  business  at  274  Houston  Street,  New  York. 
The  prisoner  was  delivered  to  the  New  York  authorities. 
John  McGarvey,  alias  Gingo,  and  a  member  of  the  chain 
gang,  who  had  served  seV'eral  terms  in  the  penitentiary, 
on  January  11,  1S78,  set  fire  to  Furnivall's  factory,  256 
and  258  Water  Street.  There  were  one  hundred  and 
thirteen  persons,  mostly  young  women,  who  were  em- 
ployed at  the  time  in  the  ujDper  stories  of  the  building. 

Alarm  was  immediately  given,  and,  fortunately,  the 
occupants  of  the  building  escaj)ed,  and  those  overcome 
by  the  smoke  were  removed  before  the  fire  reached  the 
upper  stories.  McGarvey  was  captured  by  Detective 
Michael  Campbell,  of  the  Second  Precinct,  the  same  'eve- 
ning, and  was  afterwards  sent  to  the  Penitentiary  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  About  two  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  Februaxy  tt,  ISTS,  Frank  Porter  and  Thomas  Porter, 
alias  McLaughhn,  two  desperate  characters,  well  known 
to  the  police  of  both  cities,  wxre  seen  by  Officer  Charles 
Quinn,  of  the  Fifth  Precinct,  emerging  from  the  area  of 
the  house  of  Mr.  John  May,  90  Lee  Avenue.  Accom- 
panied by  Sergeant  John  Brennan,  Quinn  went  into  the 
area  and  discovered  the  men  at  work  forcing  the  base- 
ment door.  After  a  severe  struggle  the  thieves  were  se- 
cured, but  on  the  way  to  the  station-house  Officer  Quinn's 
prisoner  drew  a  revolver  from  his  pocket,  and  putting  it 


Brooklyn's  ocardiaxs.  03 

af  his  captor's  head,  demanded  his  release.  Quinn  called 
to  Sergeant  Bi'ennan  foi*  assistance,  wh(3  went  imme- 
diately to  help  him.  In  doing  so,  however,  he  weakened 
his  hold  on  his  own  prisoner,  who,  making  the  best  of 
the  opportunity,  slipped  out  of  his  coat  and  escaped, 
leaving  the  garment  in  the  sergeant's  hands.  Quinn's 
prisoner  was  taken  to  the  station-house,  and  all  the 
officers  were  notified  to  look  out  for  a  man  in  his  shirt 
sleeves.  Officer  Callahan  subsequently  arrested  him. 
Frank  Porter  was  sent  to  prison  for  ten  years,  and 
Thomas  Porter  for  six  and  a  hatt  years. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  March,  IS 78,  Warren  Lane, 
bookkeeper,  and  Daniel  Maginnis,  watchman,  employed 
by  the  Planet  Mills  Manufacturing  Company,  were  over- 
powered by  three  armed  highwaymen  while  on  their  way 
home,  and  robbed  of  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars, 
the  property  of  their  employer.  Two  days  afterwards 
the  perpetrators  of  the  daring  outrage  were  arrested  in 
New  York  by  Detectives  Radford,  Handley  and  Dilkes, 
and  brought  to  Brooklyn.  The  trial  of  the  thieves,  whose 
names  were  Bartlett,  alias  Cooper,  O'Rourke,  alias  Stan- 
ton, alias  Roberts,  and  Martin,  alias  Carter,  was  stub- 
bornly contested,  the  highest  legal  talent  bei^^g  employed, 
and  extended  over  two  weeks.  It  resulted,  on  July  3, 
in  a  verdict  against  Bartlett  and  Martin,  and  in  the  ac- 
quittal of  O'Rourke.  Barbara  AUen,  a  ragged  and  filthy 
beggar  who  had  patrolled  Fulton  Street  for  twenty  years, 
was  seized  with  a  fit  at  Fulton  Ferry  on  Ai3ril  9,  1878, 
and  died  in  an  ambulance.  When  her  clothing  was 
searched,  it  was  found  that  she  was  worth  over  twenty 
thousand  dollars  in  money,  bank  accounts  and  first-class 
securities.    John  H.  Wright,  of  the  schooner  "  Abbie  H. 


64 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Hodgeman/'  in  the  early  part  of  April,  1878,  murdered  a 
jmikman  by  the  name  of  Bernard  Feron,  and  threw  the 
body  into  the  East  River.  The  body  was  found  a  few 
weeks  later  by  the  police,  and  on  the  scrap  iron  which 
had  been  used  to  sink  the  body,  was  found  the  name  of 
the  schooner  with  which  Wright  was  connected.  He 
was  subsequently  arrested  by  Captain  Edward  Eeilley 
and  Detectives  Daley  and  Looney.  Wright  confessed 
that  he  committed  the  murder,  and  on  November  18  was 
sent  to  prison  for  life.  In  this  case,  the  Court  specially 
complimented  the  police  for  their  remarkable  skill  and 
energy.  This  was  a  busy  year  for  the  police.  They  had 
.not  only  to  contend  with  the  criminal  classes  of  their 
own  city,  but  also  with  famous  experts  in  crime  from 
New  York  and  elsewhere.  In  one  case — a  burglary  in 
Williamsburgh — they  found  that  the  job  had  been  done 
by  skilful  professionals,  and  after  a  hard  search,  ren- 
dered all  the  more  severe  by  the  intellectuality  and  crim- 
inal knowledge  of  the  perpetrators,  they  ran  down  and 
captured  Irving,  Porter,  Wilber  and  Shang  Draper,  four 
of  the  most  reckless  and  dangerous  criminals  alive. 

The  police  record  was  blemished  this  year  by  its  own 
members.  In  May,  1878,  Officer  Maurice  Heffran,  a 
brave  man,  but  addicted  to  drink,  shot  his  superior 
officer.  On  examination,  he  was  found  to  be  insane, 
superinduced  by  delirium  tremens.  In  the  autumn, 
Jeremiah  Cavanagh,  who  had  up  to  that  time  borne  an 
excellent  reputation  for  faithfulness,  became  moody  and 
morose,  and  wound  up  by  trying  to  kill  Captain  Louis 
Worth.  In  his  case,  liquor  also  had  turned  the  brain, 
and  to  its  evil  effects  were  added  those  resulting  from 
physical  suffering  and  domestic  troubles. 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  65 

Besides  the  four  criminals  named,  the  pohce  captured 
seventy-three  distinguished  malefactors  for  various  crimes 
of  the  most  serious  nature,  including  hurglary,  highway 
rohhery,  forgery,  manslaughter  and  murder. 

1879  was  a  year  of  political  activity.  There  were 
dissensions  in  hoth  parties.  The  old  Board  Avas  com- 
posed of  James  Jourdan  and  Rodney  C.  Ward,  Repuh- 
licans,  and  Thomas  F.  White,  independent  Democrat. 
The  political  authorities  now  reversed  the  order  of  things. 
John  Pyburn,  a  genial  Democratic  leader,  replaced  Col- 
onel Ward  and  Oliver  B.  Leich,  an  ex-police  captain,  and 
a  very  active  independent  Republican  j^olitician,  Mr. 
White.  General  Jourdan  retained  his  position  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Police  and  Excise. 

The  police  year  was  as  lively  as  the  one  just  preceding. 
The  crimes  involved  were  equally  serious,  but  the 
criminals,  more  numerous,  were  not  as  reckless  and  de- 
praved as  their  predecessors. 

One  of  the  most  important  cases  of  the  year  was  the 
murder  of  Patrick  McDermott  by  Nicholas  Meyners  on 
July  IT,  1879.  Meyners,  the  evening  previous,  had  been 
brutally  beating  his  wife,  but  was  interrupted  by  McDer- 
mott, who  threatened  to  call  the  police  if  he  did  not  de- 
sist. Myners  was  enraged  at  the  interference,  and  swore 
vengeance  upon  McDermott.  In  the  morning  he  sta- 
tioned himself,  musket  in  hand,  at  the  door  of  his  cabinet 
shop  in  the  basement  of  84  Hudson  Avenue,  and  when 
McDermott  came  from  his  store,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street,  and  turned  his  back  to  take  down  the  shutters  from 
his  window,  Meyners  shot  him.  The  noise  of  the  shot 
attracted  Officer  Ryan  to  the  spot,  and  the  murderer  was 
taken  into  custody;  Ryan,  after  a  struggle  with  a  crowd 


66  Brooklyn's  guardians. 

that  wanted  to  lynch  Meyners,  succeeded  in  getting  his 
prisoner  to  the  station-house.  On  the  twelfth  of  March, 
1880,  Meyners  was  sent  to  prison  for  life,  the  plea  of  tem- 
porary emotional  insanity  saving  his  neck  from  the  gal- 
lows, where  it  properly  belonged. 

Another  case  that  excited  considerable  interest  at  the 
time  was  the  killing  of  Patrick  White  by  William  Blake, 
a  saloon-keeper,  on  the  night  of  February  1st,  1871). 
White  died  at  some  distance  from  the  place  he  was 
assaulted.  Detective  Ennis,  of  the  Sixth  Precinct,  was 
detailed  to  discover  the  murderer,  and  was  successful  in 
his  work.  He  ascertained  that  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Callahan,  residing  in  New  York,  was  in  the  company  of 
White  on  the  night  of  the  assault,  and  that  both  were 
drunk.  Callahan  was  found,  and  with  the  detective  vis- 
ited several  drinking  places,  recognizing  the  one  kept  by 
Blake  as  the  place  where  the  fracas  occurred.  Witnesses 
were  also  found  who  saw  W^hite  lying  bleeding  on  the 
stoop  of  the  saloon.  Blake  was  arrested  and  his  premises 
searched  ;  in  his  room  were  found  concealed  in  the  bed  a 
bloody  shirt,  two  loaded  revolvers  and  a  loaded  gun.  A 
large  hammer,  with  which  it  was  believed  Blake  did  the 
killing,  was  found  behind  the  bar.  On  the  fourth  of 
January,  ISSO,  Detective  George  V.  Zundt,  of  the  Central 
Office,  arrested  Hugh  Roy,  who  on  the  morning  of  the 
second  instant  knocked  down  and  robbed  Louis  Riemen- 
schneider  at  the  corner  of  Central  and  Myrtle  Avenues. 
A  hat,  which  Roy  left  behind  in  the  scuffle,  led  to  his 
arrest.  Early  in  January,  1880,  Onofrio  La  Mattino,  em- 
ployed by  Peter  Tarrintino  as  a  barber,  at  ?>07  Hamilton 
Avenue,  criminally  assaulted  the  wife  of  his  employer 
during  the  latter's  temporary  absence.  When  Tarrintino 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


67 


came  home  he  learned  of  the  outrage,  and  summoned 
Joseph  Fehce  and  Salvadore  Dimario  to  assist  him  to 
punish  the  offender.  The  three  attacked  La  Mattino 
with  razors,  and  nearly  succeeded  in  killing  him.  The 
wounded  man  was  taken  to  the  hospital,  and  his  assail- 
ants arrested.  Judge  Moore  afterwards  discharged  the 
three  men. 

The  Eastern  District  officers  did  excellent  work  this 
year.  The  '^Silver  Gang,"  who  were  chiefly  sneak- 
thieves  and  clothes-line  robbers,  and  who  apparently 
assumed  the  name  because  they  had  nothing  whatsoever 
to  do  with  the  metal,  and  the  ' '  Flying  Dutchmen, "  an 
organization  of  a  dozen  young  German-American  high- 
waymen, were  both  broken  up  and  nearly  all  their  mem- 
bers sent  behind  bars.  The  second  gang  was  the  more 
dangerous,  as  its  leading  spirits,  Prehn,  Gerloff ,  Schwarz 
and  Adzert,  possessed  courage  and  intelligence  more  than 
ordinary. 

Sergeant  Patrick  Slattery,  of  the  Eleventh  Precinct, 
and  Samuel  Duff,  foreman  of  Engine  Company  No.  3, 
distinguished  themselves  at  a  fire  at  43  President  Street, 
on  September  19,  1880,  by  saving,  at  the  imminent  risk 
of  their  own  lives,  the  life  of  little  Emma  McCann,  who 
had  been  left  behind  in  the  hurry  of  her  parents. 

In  1880  the  Eepublicans  were  again  in  power.  Gen- 
eral Jourdan  was  retained  in  office,  and  Messrs.  Pyburn 
and  Leicli  were  succeeded  by  Captain  William  L.  B. 
Steers,  a  popular  uptown  citizen,  and  Herman  Colell,  a 
wealthy  German  tobacco  merchant.  They  made  a  good 
administration,  but  were  harassed  during  their  term  of 
office  by  reason  of  excise  difficulties. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  February,  this  year,  a  gang  of 


68 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


roughs  attacked  and  killed  Officer  James  M.  Stone,  of 
the  Thh'd  Precinct.  P.  and  J.  Mungerford,  Patrick  Han- 
Ion,  Thomas  Herne  and  Daniel  Burke,  alias  Paddy 
Doyle,  were  arrested  and  charged  with  the  crime.  At 
the  Coroner  s  inquest  it  was  discovered  that  Burke  had 
thrown  the  stone  which  caused  the  officer's  death.  On 
the  seventeenth  of  May,  1880,  Burke  was  sent  to  prison 
for  seven  years,  J.  Mungerford  for  two  years,  Hanlon  for 
one  year  and  P.  Mungerford  for  six  months.  Herne 
was  discharged.  Detective  Kelly  and  Officer  Mott,  of 
the  Ninth  Precinct,  during  the  months  of  March  and 
April,  1880,  succeeded  in  breaking  up  a  gang  of  burglars, 
whose  deeds  had  been  of  the  most  daring  kind.  Charles 
Tice,  Frederick  Abell,  William  McMullen,  Philip  Peters 
and  Edward  Baisley  were  arrested,  and  eight  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  worth  of  property,  the  proceeds  from 
several  burglaries,  recovered.  Tice  was  sent  to  prison 
for  five  and  a  half  years,  and  Abell  for  four  and  a  half 
years ;  Baisley  and  McMullen  were  put  in  the  Elmira 
Eef  ormatory,  and  Peters  became  an  inmate  of  the  House 
of  Eefuge.  John  Ostermeyer,  of  114  Woodbine  Street, 
while  in  a  fit  of  delirium  tremens  on  the  night  of  May 
19,  1880,  struck  his  wife  on  the  head  with  an  axe  and 
killed  her  instantly.  When  the  officers  came  to  take 
him  to  the  station  house,  Ostermeyer  tried  to  take  his 
own  life,  but  was  not  successful.  He  wounded  himself 
severely,  however,  and  was  taken  to  St.  Catherine's 
Hospital,  where  he  remained  until  the  tenth  of  May. 
On  the  twenty-fifth  of  the  same  month  he  was  senten(5ed 
to  imprisonment  for  life.  On  the  third  of  August,  1880, 
another  murder  occurred.  John  McLaughlin,  living  at 
•19 8  Baltic  Street,  killed  his  mistress,  Mary  Blake,  during 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS.  69 

a  dispute  over  the  loss  of  twenty-five  cents,  wliicli  he 
claimed  she  had  taken  from  his  pocket  while  he  lay 
asleep  on  the  floor.  He  was  afterwards  sentenced  to 
nine  years  imprisonment.  In  H.  De  Browsky's  saloon, 
at  30 7  Atlantic  Avenue,  on  the  fourth  of  October, 
Thomas  Jones  was  murdered  by  John  J.  Dwyer.  Jones 
was  playing  pool  with  a  friend  named  George  Secomb, 
and  refused  a  drink  Avhich  Dwyer  offered  him.  Dwyer, 
angered  at  the  refusal,  seized  a  billiard  cue  and  struck 
Jones  on  the  head  with  the  butt  end,  causing  instant 
death.  Dwyer  was  tried  and  found  guilty  of  man- 
slaughter. Proving  an  excellent  record,  the  Court  was 
lenient,  and  sentenced  him  to  only  two  years  imprison- 
ment. The  Ninth  Sub-Precinct  deserves  credit  this  year 
for  their  admirable  work  in  tracing  and  arresting  a  trio 
of  skilful  burglars  who  had  been  breaking  into  houses 
along  the  upper  part  of  De  Kalb  Avenue.  After  the  last 
robbery  they  obtained  a  description  of  three  men  seen 
suspiciously  loitering  in  the  neighborhood  at  the  time 
and  found  that  it  tallied  with  that  of  a  similar  trio  ob- 
served at  a  previous  burglary.  Armed  only  with  this 
they  searched  the  purlieus  and  thieves'  haunts  of  New 
York  and  Brooklyn,  and  within  four  days  captured 
Moore,  Patterson  and  Spencer,  the  perpetrators. 

On  the  third  of  January,  1881,  occurred  the  murder  of 
Barbara  Groventhal,  by  James  Walsh,  at  the  residence 
of  Thomas  F.  Carlisle,  502  Willoughby  Avenue.  Early 
in  the  evening  of  the  day  Walsh  visited  Mr.  Carlisle's 
house,  and  enticing  her  into  the  yard,  he  plunged  a  knife 
into  her  heart,  and  then  escaped.  Three  hours  and  a  half 
after  the  police  were  made  cognizant  of  the  affair,  the 
murderer  was  under  arrest.    He  was  found  in  Gowanus 


70 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


Canal, 'where  he  had  jumped  in  order  to  put  an  end  to 
his  hfe.  On  the  twentieth  of  January — a  year  later — he 
was  hung.  Detective  Chambers,  of  the  First  Precinct, 
while  attempting  to  arrest  a  burglar  at  255  and  257  Ful- 
ton Street,  Avas  shot  through  the  eye.  Notwithstanding 
that  the  blood  was  running  from  the  wound  in  a  large 
stream,  the  detective  seized  the  fellow,  and  brought  him, 
unassisted,  to  the  station.  He  was  afterwards  taken  to 
his  home  in  an  ambulance,  where  he  suffered  for  some 
time  with  great  pain.  His  assailant,  on  the  nineteenth 
of  April,  1881,  was  sent  to  prison  for  ten  years.  William 
Johnson,  on  July  10,  1881,  was  arrested  by  Officer  Peter 
.Cain,  of  the  Eleventh  Precinct,  for  the  murder  of  his 
wife.  The  j)risoner,  early  in  the  morning,  beat  and 
choked  his  wife,  as  she  lay  in  bed,  until  she  was  dead. 
He  was  sentenced  to  four  years  imprisonment.  On  the 
sixteenth  of  September,  1S81,  the  police  nabbed  Charlie 
Becker,  the  noted  counterfeiter.  The  eye  of  the  law  had 
for  a  long  time  been  watching  Becker,  but  his  actions 
were  such  as  to  make  people  believe  that  he  was  leading 
an  honest  life,  and  no  chance  was  offered  for  his  arrest. 
Louis  L.  Coudert,  a  few  days  before  Becker  was  taken, 
entered  a  complaint  against  him,  charging  him  with 
counterfeiting  a  one  thousand  franc  note  upon  the  Bank 
of  France.  Detectives  Edward  Looney  and  Thomas 
Shaughnessy  arrested  Becker  at  his  residence  in  Madison 
Street,  East  New  York,  and  also  secured  a  large  lot  of 
materials  for  counterfeiting.  Beckei",  on  the  twenty- 
eight  of  November,  1881,  was  sent  to  prison  for  six  and 
a  half  years.  Becker  was,  without  doubt,  the  greatest 
counterfeiter  the  world  ever  had.  Besides  loeing  a  splen- 
did engraver  and  an  artist  of  high  rank  in  black  and 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  71 

white,  he  had  a  thorough  practical  knowledge  of  applied 
chemistry,  photography,  lithography  and  microscopy. 
His  work  has  been  repeatedly  pronounced  faultless  by 
government  officials  and  distinguished  experts.  It  is 
estimated  that  in  his  busy  life-time  of  crime,  he  has 
caused  losses  amounting  to  over  two  million  dollars. 

In  1882  Richard  Lauer  and  Thomas  T.  Evans  succeeded 
Wilham  L.  B.  Stears  and  Herman  Colell  as  Excise  Com- 
missioners. The  department  over  which  these  gentle- 
men are  heads  granted  during  the  year  two  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fifty-eight  licenses.  On  the  ninth  of 
January,  1882,  Francisco  Massa  stabbed  Ferdinand  Per- 
fetti,  and  two  months  later  was  sentenced  to  imprison- 
ment for  four  years.  Officer  James  McCloskey  on 
March  28,  1882,  distinguished  himself  by  arresting 
William  Wilson  and  Thomas  Jackson,  two  colored  burg- 
lars, whose  exploits  had  been  for  the  two  years  previous 
of  the  most  daring  character.  While  patroling  his  beat 
the  officer  saw  two  men  scale  a  fence  in  the  I'ear  of  182 
Halsey  Street  and  climb  over  the  rear  extension  of  the 
house.  He  followed  and  nabbed  Wilson.  Jackson  got 
away,  but  was  caught  a  few  moments  afterwards  hiding 
in  the  yard  at  the  rear  of  2o8  Halsey  Street.  In  May 
Wilson  was  sentenced  to  five  years  and  Jackson  to  ten. 
On  the  twenty-sixth  of  June,  1882,  Officer  Thomas  Early 
was  shot  in  two  parts  of  his  body  while  attempting  to 
arrest  Eichard  McCuUough,  a  desperado  of  Montreal, 
Canada.  McCullough  took  some  fruit  from  the  stand 
owned  by  Luigi  Acarino,  at  23  Hamilton  Avenue,  and 
refused  to  pay  for  it.  Officer  Early  attempted  to  stop 
him  from  walking  away,  whereupon  McCullough  drew 
a  pistol  and  fired  at  the  officer,  striking  him  in  the  elbow. 


72 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


The  men  clinched,  and  during  the  struggle  for  supremacy 
the  thief  fired  a  second  shot,  this  time  the  hall  entering 
the  officer's  hack.  Detective  Connors  came  to  Early's 
assistance  and  succeeded  in  wresting  the  weapon  from 
McCullough.  The  wounded  officer  was  confined  in  the 
hospital  for  a  length  of  time,  and  upon  his  recovery  his 
assailant  was  sent  to  prison  for  eight  years.  In  the  after- 
noon of  August  '^)1,  1SS:>,  fom*-year-old  Lizzie  Selden,  the 
only  daughter  of  William  H.  Selden,  was  kidnapped 
from  in  front  of  her  parents'  residence,  220  Carlton  Ave- 
nue. The  police  were  notified  of  the  occurrence  hy  the 
.  distracted  father,  hut  a  thorough  search  failed  to  throw 
any  light  on  the  case.  Some  time  afterwards  Charles 
McNally,  alias  McLaughlin,  gave  information  to  the 
detectives  that  eventually  led  to  the  arrest  of  Margaret 
Keppel,  of  122  Park  Avenue,  and  the  restoration  of  Liz- 
zie to  her  parents.  With  the  exception  of  the  Charlie 
Eoss  abduction  case,  the  affair  caused  more  excitement 
among  the  Hill  people  than  any  crime  for  five  years  back. 
In  the  same  month  Francis  G.  Salmon,  a  lawyer,  de- 
frauded his  clients  out  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  and 
skipped''  to  Florida,  where  he  was  arrested  by  Detec- 
tive George  V.  Zundt  and  brought  back  to  Brooklyn. 
In  September  he  was  sent  to  prison  for  five  years. 
George  Thompson,  residing  in  a  tenement  at  362  Hicks 
Street,  on  the  night  of  September  25,  1882,  murdered 
Michael  Connors,  with  whom  he  was  drinking,  in  his 
own  apartments.  The  murderer  fled  from  the  city 
under  a  disguise,  but  was  captured  in  New  York  a  few 
hours  later  by  Detectives  Daniel  Daly,  Edward  Looney 
and  Officer  John  Doran,  of  the  Third  Sub -Precinct.  On 
the  second  of  February,  1883,  he  was  sent  to  prison  for 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


73 


life.  On  the  twenty-fourth  of  October,  1882,  occurred 
the  murder  of  John  Lennon,  a  car  driver,  by  John 
Kenny,  a  bill  poster.  The  affair  caused  a  sensation  at 
the  time,  as  it  was  well  known  that  Kenny  had  a  host  of 
political  friends,  and  it  was  a  popular  belief  that  he 
would  get  clear  of  all  punishment.  Lennon  was  found 
by  Officer  John  H.  Burns,  of  the  First  Precinct,  at  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  lying  on  Duffield  Street  with 
several  pistol  shots  in  his  head.  A  letter  was  found  on 
the  ground  near  the  body  addressed  to  John  Kenny, 
which  led  to  the  latter's  arrest.  A  jury  found  Kenny 
guilty,  but  while  he  was  in  Raymond  Street  Jail  await- 
ing sentence  an  unknown  friend  succeeded  in' handing 
him  a  pistol  unnoticed,  with  which,  soon  afterwards,  he 
committed  suicide.  Another  arrest  for  murder  was 
made  on  the  twenty-third  of  December,  1882.  This  time 
the  murderer  was  Alexander  Johnson,  a  colored  man. 

The  Police  Department  in  the  beginning  of  1883-1: 
numbered  six  hundred  and  sixty  five  men,  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  nine  of  which  number  were  patrol- 
men. Of  the  many  crimes  committed  during  the  year, 
five  were  for  murder.  The  first  was  on  the  seventeenth 
of  April,  1884,  and  the  victim  was  Diedrich  Steffens. 
Steffens  was  paying  attentions  to  a  niece  of  Diedrich 
Wahnken,  but  the  latter  misconstrued  his  intentions  and 
suspected  that  Steffens  was  his  wife's  paramour.  Wahn- 
ken brooded  on  his  suspicions  until  it  made  him  deranged 
and  one  day  Avhile  Steffens  was  passing  his  store,  he  shot 
him  from  his  doorway.  Wahnken  was  subsequently 
sent  to  the  State  Lunatic  Asylum.  On  October  6,  1884, 
George  Mills,  while  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  killed 
his  wife  vdth.  a  knife  at  146  North  Sixth  Street,  and  de- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


livered  himself  up  to  the  pohce.  During  a  street  fracas 
that  occurred  on  the  fourteenth  of  October,  1884, 
Charles  Miller  stabbed  and  killed  Casper  Schittig,  and 
was  arrested.  On  the  twenty-fourth  of  the  same 
month,  1884,  Thomas  J.  Young  killed  his  wife  by  shoot- 
ing her  through  the  head  with  a  pistol  ball,  and  on  No- 
vember 30th,  1881,  Joseph  Guidice  was  arrested  for  shoot- 
ing and  instantly  killing  Maggiovini,  a  baker  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Mary  Dassories,  at  22  Union  Street. 

On  the  Seventeenth  of  February,  1885,  Detectives  Ed- 
ward Looney  and  Patrick  Corr,  were  severely  wounded  in 
attempting  to  arrest  Paul  Hogan,  alias  Harrington,  alias 
Preston,  a  bail  jumper,  on  First  Avenue,  New  York.  At 
the  corner  of  Sixty-fifth  Street  and  Second  Avenue,  the 
detectives  saw  the  man  they  were  looking  for.  Going 
up  to  him,  Looney  placed  his  right  hand  on  his  shoulder 
and  said  ^'I  want  you  ;"  immediately  Hogan  turned,  and 
without  the  slightest  warning  shot  the  detective  in  the 
neck.  He  then  sprang  behind  a  column  of  the  elevated 
railroad  and  fired  two  shots  at  Corr,  both  of  which  took 
effect  in  his  neck.  The  would-be  murderer  was  chased 
half  a  mile,  but  was  not  captured.  Detective  Michael 
Hickey,  of  the  New  York  Headquarters,  had  the  wound- 
ed officers  removed  to  the  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  where 
they  speedily  recovered  from  the  injuries  that  at  first 
had  seemed  to  be  fatal. 


CHAPTER  V. 


From  1884  to  1887. 


Gen.  Jourdan  Retires  from  Municipal  Service. — IIis  Splendid  Rec- 
ord AS  Soldier.  jVIilitiaman,  Official,  Politician  and  Man  of 
Affairs. — Col.  Partridge  Succeeds  Hlm. — Francis  L.  Dallon 
made  Deputy  Commissioner. — Lauer  and  Evans  Continued  as 
Excise  Commissioners. — A  New  Sub-precinct,  the  Sixth  — Clara 
Groblenski  Poisoned. — An  Insane  Borgia. — The  Herrick  Mur 
DER. — McDonald  Scissored  to  Death  by  a  Mad  Italian. — A  Hom- 
icidal Husband. — The  18S5  Election. — The  Difficulties  op  the 
Newly-elected  Administration. — Police  and  Excise. — The  Lat- 
ter's  Unpopularity. — Liquor  Business. — The  Gordian  Knot  Cut. 
Hon.  Thomas  Carroll,  One  of  Brooklyn's  Best  Men,  :made  Police 
Co3imissioner. — Dallon  Retained. — New  Excise  Commisstoxers. 
— Criminal  Events. — Arrest  of  George  Meyer,  who  Worked 
Bogus  Cheques. — George  Potter,  Boarding  House  Fiend,  Col- 
lared.— Miller,  a  Scientific  Burglar,  Taken  Care  Of. — Mc- 
Partland  Bamboozles  the  Police. — Michael  Mahady^,  the  Ux- 
oricide.— Florence  May  Barton  Sault,  the  Unexcelled  Liar. — 
— Increased  Timidity  of  Out-of-Town  and  Domestic  Thieves. — 
Detective  Chambers  ox  the  Alert. — Capt.  Campbell  Bounces  a 
Pickpocket. — Favors  to  Thieves. — Their  Abject  Subjugation. 

EW  year's  day,  1884,  marked  the  retirement  of 
General  Jourdan  from  the  Pohce  Commissioner- 
ship  of  this  city.  He  had  so  distinguished  himself  in 
the  position,  and  so  won  the  admiration  and  esteem  of 
all  the  citizens  of  Brooklyn,  that  the  step  taken  excited  uni- 
versal curiosity  and  regret.  Equal  successes  in  other  fields 
have  combined  to  make  him  one  of  the  great  Brooklynites 
of  the  century.  Starting  in  poverty,  and  with  no  influ- 
ential protectors  to  assist  him,  his  ambition  knew  no  ob- 
stacle.   He  utilized  every  possible  educational  opportu- 


76 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


nity,  alid  supplemented  this  by  educating  himself.  1852 
found  him  a  young  man  already  successful  in  trade,  and 
with  every  promise  of  a  brilliant  future.  In  1854  he 
joined  the  Fourteenth  Regiment,  then  to  be  afterwards 
known  as  the  "Fighting  Fourteenth,"  and  was  enrolled 
under  Captain  Horace  A.  Sprague.  He  displayed  from 
the  outset  a  strong  liking  for  military  art,  and  soon  was 
recognized  by  his  companions  as  an  authority  upon  its 
questions,  details  and  law.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
civil  war,  he  was  among  the  first  to  volunteer  his  services 
in  the  cause  of  the  Union.  His  ability  and  knowledge 
were  immediately  called  into  full  use,  and  were  so  warmly 
appreciated  by  the  authorities,  that  he  was  promoted  to 
a  higher  position,  and  left  Brooklyn  for  the  front  with 
the  rank  of  major.  As  an  officer,  he  displayed  all  the 
qualities  of  high  generalship,  and  was  rapidly  moved  up- 
wards on  the  scale  of  rank.  The  men  under  his  com- 
mand were  not  only  thoroughly  drilled  and  disciplined, 
but  were  also  so  carefully  watched  and  cared  for,  that 
their  moral  and  physical  condition  was  always  at  the 
best.  Though  strict  to  a  degree  in  matters  of  duty,  he 
was  equally  kind,  thoughtful,  affectionate  and  generous. 
In  December  of  the  same  year  (1861),  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Fifty-sixth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  as 
lieutenant-colonel.  In  the  following  six  months,  he  had 
made  for  himself  so  superb  a  record  for  ability,  courage 
and  faithfulness,  that  in  September,  1862,  he  was  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
eighth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers. 

In  1863  he  was  again  promoted,  this  time  to  the  rank 
of  General,  and  the  First  Brigade,  First  Division  of  the 
Eighteenth  Army  Corps,  was  placed  under  his  charge. 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS.  77 

He  was  brevetted  Brigadier-General  on  the  twenty-ninth 
of  September,  ISO-t,  in  reward  for  his  gallant  services  on 
the  field.  He  reached  the  height  of  war  glory  when  in 
April,  1805,  he  was  made  Major-General.  General  Jonr- 
dan  served  throughont  the  war,  and  was  at  the  first  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Eun,  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  siege  of 
YorktoAvn,  the  fight  at  Warwick  Creek,  the  passage  of 
the  Chickahoming,  the  battles  of  Fair  Oaks,  White  Oak 
Swamp,  Savage  Station  and  Glendale  Church,  and  the 
attack  on  Suffolk  and  Malvern  Hill.  In  North  Carolina 
he  participated  in  the  passage  of  the  Xeuse  River,  the 
attack  at  Deep  Creek  and  Jacksonville,  the  repulse  of 
the  enemy  at  Newbern,  an  attack  on  Kingston,  a  recon- 
noissance  on  Fort  Fisher,  a  fight  at  Wilmington,  sharp 
encounters  at  White  Oak  Creek,  the  battle  of  the  Big 
North  Eastern  Swamp,  and  many  other  engagements  of 
lesser  importance.  Subsequently  he  was  transferred 
with  his  brigade  to  Bermuda  Hundred.  Here  he  partici- 
pated in  the  attack  and  capture  of  Fort  Harrison  on  the 
James  Eiver.  He  repulsed  the  attacks  at  Spring  Hill 
and  Signal  Hill  in  front  of  Richmond,  and  took  part  in 
the  battle  at  Battery  Field. 

The  war  over,  he  returned  to  Brooklyn  and  entered 
public  life.  His  feats  were  known  to  all  his  fellow-citi- 
zens, with  whom  he  was  one  of  their  most  distinguished 
heroes.  It  was  felt  that  the  city  should  avail  itself  of 
his  military  skill  and  experience.  Accordingly  in  Aug- 
ust, 1S66,  he  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  Thirteenth  Regi- 
ment of  Brooklyn.  He  commanded  the  Regiment  for  a 
short  time,  when,  owing  to  the  pressure  of  other  duties, 
he  resigned.  In  January,  1872,  he  was  re-elected  Col- 
onel, and  when  General  Dakin  was  j^romoted  from  the 


78 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


command  of  the  Fifth  Brigade  to  the  position  of  Major- 
General,  commanding  the  Second  Division,  Joui  dan  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  thereby  occasioned.  This  posi- 
tio]i  he  held  until  the  death  of  General  Dakin  on  May 
13,  1878,  when,  by  the  right  of  seniority,  he  took  com- 
mand of  the  Division.  When  Governor  Robinson  was 
elected,  he  applied  the  political  axe  to  military  matters 
in  Brooklyn,  and  in  June,  1879,  he  reduced  General  Jour- 
dan  to  the  command  of  the  Fifth  Brigade  and  wiped  out 
the  Second  Division  Headquarters  with  a  stroke  of  the 
pen.  One  of  the  first  acts  of  Governor  Cornell,  after  he 
took  his  seat  of  office  in  1880,  was  to  restore  the  General 
to  his  old  position  in  command  of  the  Division. 

General  Jourdan's  connection  with  the  Police  Depart- 
ment of  Brooklyn  began  in  1872,  May  21st,  when  he  was 
appointed  a  Police  Commissioner  and  made  President  of 
the  Board,  but  was  succeeded  in  1875  by  Daniel  Briggs. 
On  the  death  of  Mr.  Briggs,  July  4th,  1870,  General 
Jourdan  was  reappointed  President  of  the  Police  Com- 
missioners. He  served  the  city  in  this  capacity  until 
1884,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Col.  John  N.  Partridge. 

In  politics,  he  has  been  a  staunch  Unionist  and  Repub- 
lican, from  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  to  the  present 
time.  His  executive  ability  and  popularity  have  made 
him  prominent  in  local  politics.  With  General  Benjamin 
Tracy  and  Hon.  Silas  B.  Dutcher,  he  became  one  of  the 
three  great  Republican  leaders.  They  were  facetiously 
known  to  those  interested  in  polities  as  the  ' '  Thre^ 
Graces"  of  Brooklyn.  As  such  he  became  a  member  of 
the  State  Committee,  and  a  power  in  the  councils  of  his 
party,  in  both  State  and  nation.  He  served  as  delegate 
to  many  conventions,  both  State  and  National,  and  was 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


79 


active  in  nearly  all  the  great  campaigns.  In  party  man- 
agement lie  displayed  shrewdness  and  ability.  By  the 
selection  of  judicious  candidates  and  the  thorough  organ- 
ization of  all  the  party-forces,  he  was  largely  instrumental 
in  enabhng  the  Eepublican  minority  to  control  Brook- 
lyn and  Kings  County  and  in  bringing  forward  such  suc- 
cessful candidates  as  ex-Mayors  Frederick  A.  Schroeder, 
and  Seth  Low,  ex-Comptroller  William  G.  Steinmetz, 
ex-District  Attorney  Isaac  S.  Catlin,  ex- Sheriffs  Aras 
G.  Williams,  Albert  Daggett  and  Lewis  E.  Stegman,  and 
ex-Registers  Carl  Schurig  and  Samuel  Richards.  During 
the  long  period  in  which  corruption  extensively  pre- 
vailed in  municipal  circles  and  extravagance  was  the 
order  of  the  day,  he  was  unsmirched  and  ever  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  forces  by  which  the  city  was  being  despoiled. 
Though  frequently  urged  by  his  friends  and  the  leaders  of 
his  party  to  accept  nomination  for  high  elective  offices, 
he  never  was  a  candidate  for  any  position.  Of  him 
it  may  be  said  that  he  is  one  of  the  few  politicians  who, 
always  sincere  and  honest,  manage  to  hold  unimpaired 
the  public  esteem  and  affection  with  which  they  start 
their  career.  In  the  business  world  General  Jourdan  has 
been  very  successful.  His  first  enterprises  of  any  mo- 
ment were  in  real  estate.  He  early  perceived  the  great 
future  value  of  land  in  Brooklyn  and  invested  accord- 
ingly. All,  or  nearly  all  of  these  trans  actions  were  very 
remunerative.  A  second  noteworthy  business  operation 
was  the  organization  and  successful  management  of  the 
Fulton  Municipal  Gaslight  Company.  Prior  to  1876 
Brooklyn  was  illuminated  by  gas  manufactured  by  a  few 
close  corporations.  They  had  divided  the  city  into  dis- 
tricts and  distributed  these  among  themselves.  They 


80  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

feared  no  competition,  charging  high  prices,  supplying 
an  inferior  gas  and  making  no  use  of  the  inventions  and 
discoveries  which  have  revolutionized  gas-making.  The 
public  mind  was  bitterly  hostile  to  these  companies  but 
saw  no  hope  of  amelioration.  General  Jourdan  saw  the 
opportunity.  He  first  secured  local  rights  of  all  the 
more  valuable  gas  patents  for  the  city  and  then  inter- 
ested a  number  of  capitalists  in  the  project.  Up  to  this 
point  the  matter  had  been  kept  quiet.  The  secret  leaked 
out  and  the  old  companies  began  to  feel  uneasy  and 
make  opposition.  The  common  council  next  gave  the 
permission  required  by  the  statute  to  perfect  the  charter 
and  open  and  use  the  streets,  and  the  victory  was  half 
won.  The  opposition  became  formidable,  the  companies 
invoking  the  press  and  courts  in  their  behalf.  The  strug- 
gle, though  a  determined  one,  ended  in  General  Jourdan's 
favor.  The  new  company  prospered  from  the  first.  It 
produced  a  gas  of  high  illuminating  power  which  it  sold 
at  very  low  figures.  It  cut  into  the  business  done  by  the 
old  companies  until  these  humbled  themselves  and  re- 
arranged their  management ;  in  some  cases  buying  their 
gas  wholesale  from  the  new  concern  ;  in  others,  leasing 
patent  rights  from  it,  and  in  still  others,  re-equipping 
their  works  to  conform  to  modern  ideas.  The  Fulton 
was  a  complete  success,  rewarding  its  organizers,  includ- 
ing General  Jourdan,  with  comfortable  fortunes.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  many  enter- 
prises, and  is  to  day  as  influential  in  business  and  finan- 
cial circles  as  he  formerly  was  in  political  and  municipal. 
In  January,  1884,  General  Jourdan's  place  as  Police 
Commissioner  was  filled  by  Mayor  Low  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  Colonel  John  N.  Partridge,  Francis  L.  Dallon  be- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  81 

coming  Deputy  Commissioner  to  succeed  Edward  Lang- 
ford.  Eichard  Lauer  and  Thomas  T.  Evans  were  con- 
tinued as  Commissioners  of  Excise.  This  year  is  marked 
by  the  appUcation  of  ''civil  service"  rules  to  all  the 
municipal  departments  and  the  practical  prohibition  of 
Eepublican  office-holders  from  taking  any  active  part  in 
local  politics.  The  criminal  record  is  singularly  free 
from  grave  offences. 

No  change  was  made  in  the  heads  of  the  department 
during  the  following  year  (1855),  but  eighty-six  men 
were  added  to  the  general  force,  making  the  total  num- 
ber eight  hundred  and  four.  On  the  twelfth  of  October  a 
new  sub-precinct,  embracing  portions  of  the  Sixth  and 
Seventh  Precincts,  and  known  as  the  Sixth  Sub,  was 
established  at  -137  Graham  Avenue,  and  the  eighteenth 
of  the  following  month  the  new  police  launch,  the 

Judge  Moore,'' went  into  commission.  The  most  im- 
portant crime  of  the  year  was  the  poisoning  of  Clara 
Groblenski  by  her  husband,  Joseph,  in  the  early  part  of 
the  month  of  July,  for  which  he  was  sentenced  to  be 
hanged.  Subsequently,  upon  a  thorough  examination 
by  expert  alienists,  he  was  pronounced  by  them  to  be  in- 
sane and  was  sent  to  the  State  Asylum.  The  horror  of 
the  case  was  intensified  by  the  fact  of  the  discovery  that 
he  had  murdered  his  first  wife  in  a  similar  manner. 
Both  bodies  were  exhumed  by  order  of  the  District 
Attorney  and  delivered  to  distinguished  chemists  for 
chemical  analysis,  and  in  both  was  found  enough  arsenic 
to  kill  a  dozen  people. 

Next  in  importance  was  the  killing  of  Albert  P.  Her- 
rick  by  his  twenty  year  old  step-son,  Thomas  J.  Arm- 
strong.   The  police  were  a  long  time  in  fixing  the  crime 


82 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


upon  young  Armstrong,  but  finally  succeeded,  and  the 
murderer  finding  the  meshes  of  the  law  were  gathering 
closely  around  him,  confessed  that  he  performed  the 
killing,  but  only  in  self-defence.  Considerable  public  in- 
terest was  manifested  in  the  trial  on  account  of  the 
shocking  exposure  of  family  scandals,  and  but  little  sur- 
prise was  exhibited  when  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  of 
not  guilty.  Charles  Sheridan,  an  ex- convict,  on  the 
twenty-fifth  of  September  stabbed  and  killed  Thomas 
Farrel.  He  hid  from  the  authorities  after  the  murder, 
but  was  found  by  Detective  Price  five  hours  afterwards 
•  secreted  in  a  patch  of  weeds  in  the  yard  at  the  rear  of 
137  North  EUiot  Place.  Found  guilty  by  the  jury  of 
murder  in  the  second  degree,  on  the  fifth  of  Decem- 
ber, Sheridan  was  sent  to  Sing  Sing  for  life.  On  Octo- 
ber 16,  George  McDonald  and  Givanero  Martingelo  en- 
gaged in  a  fracas  in  front  of  the  barber  shop  of  Rafello 
Carbone,  272  North  Second  Street.  Carbone,  an  inter- 
ested spectator  of  the  fight,  seeing  that  his  friend  Mar- 
tingelo was  getting  decidedly  the  worst  of  the  affair, 
rushed  from  his  place  of  observation,  and  with  a  pair  of 
scissors  effectually  settled  things  by  stabbing  McDonald 
to  death.  The  murderer  was  arrested,  and  paid  the  pen- 
alty of  his  crime. 

A  curious  case  of  troubled  conscience  came  to  light  in 
the  morning  of  the  twenty-ninth  of  June,  1885.  Officer 
Michael  Gilligan  of  the  Third  Precinct,  while  patrolling 
his  beat  was  approached  by  a  wildisli  looking  man,  who 
fell  on  his  knees  as  soon  as  he  perceived  the  blue  coat, 
and  begged  the  latter  to  arrest  him  as  he  had  killed  his 
wife.  The  officer  did  not  know  whether  to  believe  the 
story  or  not,  but  acting  on  the  information  given  by  the 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


83 


self -accused  murderer,  he  went  to  the  ai)artnients  at  551) 
Court  Street,  where  he  discovered  that  the  tale  was  no 
fiction.  The  man,  who  gave  his  name  as  Thomas  O'Shea 
was  tried  and  sentenced  to  life  imprisonment.  Joseph 
Quallinguero,  alias  Woertz,  was,  on  the  thirty- 
first  of  May,  arrested  in  Jersey  City,  by  Detective 
Michael  Campbell,  and  brought  back  to  Brooklyn 
to  answer  for  the  killing  of  John  Eose,  the  night 
previous.  He  Avas  tried,  convicted,  and  sent  to  the 
Sing  Sing  prison  for  fifteen  years.  Another  case  of 
murder  occurred  on  the  fifteenth  of  August,  when 
Fritz  Green,  a  sailor  on  the  bark  Mozart"  took  the  hfe 
of  a  companion,  named  Julius  Wolf.  Green,  in  the  fra- 
cas which  took  place  in  the  ship  was  also  severely 
wounded.  He  was  taken  to  the  hospital  where  he  died 
five  days  afterwards. 

In  the  autumn  of  1SS5,  dissensions  rent  the  Republican 
ranks.  They  named  two  candidates  for  the  mayoralty, 
while  the  great  Democratic  organization,  harmonious 
and  united,  selected  one  of  its  best  representatives, 
Daniel  D.  Whitney,  as  its  standard-bearer.  The  choice 
proved  eminently  wise,  Mr.  Whitney  receiving  more 
votes  than  the  other  two  together.  As  the  charter 
amendments  had  made  a  one-man-power  government, 
and  as  nearly  all  the  municipal  departments  were  filled 
with  Eepublicans,  the  grave  political  duty  devolved  upon 
the  mayor-elect  of  appointing  successors  who  should  be 
representative  Democrats,  and  at  the  same  time  thor- 
oughly qualified  and  capable  for  the  important  offices  to 
be  filled.  How  well  this  was  done  is  already  a  matter  of 
local  history.  Nowhere  were  better  appointments  made 
than  in  the  Departments  of  Police  and  Excise.  In  regard 


S4  BROOKLYN  S  GUARDIANS. 

to  the  latter,  much  was  at  stake.  Messrs.  Lauer  and 
Evans,  in  their  interpretation  of  the  law  upon  the  stat- 
ute, had  construed  4t  strictly  against  the  liquor  trade. 
Besides,  they  had  wisely  or  unwisely  determined  to  grant 
no  new  licenses,  and  so  had  made  no  allowance  for  the 
growth  of  the  city  or  the  new  demands  caused  by 
changes  in  the  population.  Thus,  for  example,  in  1883, 
when  there  was  no  travel  over  the  bridge  and  Fulton 
Ferry  carried  tens  of  thousands  daily,  there  were  over 
thirty  saloons  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  latter  and  but 
four  in  that  of  the  former.  The  opening  of  the  bridge 
reversed  the  condition  of  affairs.  The  great  viaduct  re- 
ceived at  least  a  half  of  the  inter-urban  traffic,  while 
Fulton  Ferry  fell  to  one-third  of  its  former  importance. 
Under  the  rule  referred  to,  the  Commissioners  refused  to 
license  new  saloons  near  the  bridge  terminus.  Men  who 
had  leased  or  bought  property  for  hotel  or  saloon  pur- 
poses in  the  vicinity  were  unable  to  do  business,  and  as 
the  Supreme  Court  declared  itself  powerless  to  afford 
redress  in  the  premises,  found  themselves  saddled  with 
losing  and  even  ruinous  bargains.  They  naturally  de- 
nounced both  the  rule  and  the  two  Commissioners,  its 
authors.  On  the  other  side,  the  Maine  law  men  received 
this  action  as  but  one  step  toward  reform,  and  like  most 
reformers  who  want  either  the  world  or  nothing,  were 
incensed  at  what  they  called  "parleying  with  sin  and 
gin,"  ''a  truce  with  Satan,''  ''surrendering  to  the  rum 
hells,"  and  the  like,  and  anathematized  the  Commission- 
ers accordingly.  Despite  the  fact  that  they  were  guided 
by  the  strictest  honesty  and  sense  of  duty,  the  Excise 
Board  incurred  the  hostility  of  the  prohibitionists  on  the 


DANIEL  D.  WHITNEY. 
Mayor  of  Brooklyn. 


I 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


85 


one  hand,  and  of  the  hqnoi'  dealei's  and  brewers  on  the 
other. 

The  appointments  of  the  three  Commissioners  of 
Pohce  and  Excise  were,  therefore,  waited  for  with  great 
anxiety  by  the  entire  city.  The  new  Mayor  allayed  all 
fears,  and  gave  nniversal  satisfaction  by  naming  ex- 
Eegister  Thomas  Carroll  for  Commissioner  of  Police,  and 
John  Cunningham  and  John  Schliemann  as  the  two 
Commissioners  of  Excise.  The  appointees  took  office 
February  1,  ISSO. 

It  was  some  time  after  188(5  had  put  in  an  appearance 
that  any  arrests  of  importance  were  made.  On  Febru- 
ary ilth  George  Meyer,  a  very  clever  s^dndler,  was  cap- 
tured by  Sergeant  Nelson  and  Policeman  King,  of  the 
Twelfth  Precinct.  Meyer  had  been  passing  bogus  cheques 
on  the  shopkeepers  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fulton  and 
Tompkins  Avenues.  When  he  was  arrested,  several 
cheques  amounting  to  over  a  thousand  dollars  were 
found  on  him,  all  of  which  were  drawn  on  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Brooklyn.  He  was  finally  brought  to 
trial  and  sentenced  to  a  term  of  years  in  the  Peniten- 
tiary. 

On  May  12,  George  Potter,  the  notorious  boarding- 
house  thief,  was  run  down  by  Detective  Thomas  Holland 
of  the  Clymer  Street  Station,  and  sent  to  States  Prison 
for  a  long  series  of  robberies  committed  in  boarding- 
houses  in  both  the  Eastern  and  Western  Districts. 

For  over  a  month  the  residents  of  the  Nineteenth 
Ward  were  troubled  by  constant  housebreaking.  The 
mysterious  burglar,  who  baffled  the  police  on  every  side, 
was  at  last  captured  on  the  night  of  June  13th  and 
taken  to  the  Clymer  Street  Precinct.    He  gave  the  Iiame 


86 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


of  Johnsoiij  but  was  known  to  the  police  by  the  name  of 
Miller.  He  worked  very  cleverly,  and  often  entered  four 
or  five  houses  in  one  night.  His  modus  operandi  was  to 
cut  the  putty  from  a  pane  of  glass  in  the  parlor  or  base- 
ment window,  remove  the  glass  noiselessly,  and  then 
raise  the  sash  and  enter  the  house.  He  had  made  his 
nefarious  calling  a  regular  business.  Among  the  ingeni- 
ous tools  he  had  invented  or  obtained  from  more  clever 
operators,  were  a  pane-holder,  consisting  of  a  rubber  disc 
from  which  the  air  could  be  drawn.  This,  applied 
against  a  pane,  holds  it  with  enough  force  to  resist  the 
pressure  of  the  diamond  employed  to  cut  a  space  through 
which  to  insert  the  hand  ;  a  cutting  instrument  which 
separates  the  putty  from  the  wooden  sill  without  shat- 
tering the  glass  ;  a  knife-edge  fine-steel  saw  which  will 
cut  through  an  ordinary  window-catch  in  a  minute  and 
a  half,  and  a  door-fasterxcr  to  bar  the  way  against  an 
aroused  and  armed  householder  or  an  intrusive  police- 
man. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  March  20,  1886,  Detective 
Edward  Rorke  arrested  Miles  McPartland,  alias  Thomp- 
son, just  as  he  was  leaving  No.  3e30  Atlantic  Avenue 
with  a  considerable  quantity  of  stolen  goods.  McPart- 
land had  committed  the  burglary  with  his  usual  skill, 
and  succeeded  in  carrying  away  everything  valuable  in 
the  house  without  disturbing  one  of  its  occupants. 
When  Eorke  made  the  arrest  he  at  first  thought  he  had 
only  caught  an  ordinary  burglar,  but  before  the  second 
lamp-post  had  been  passed  he  discovered  he  had  arrested 
a  man  for  whom  he  had  been  looking  for  months.  He 
hurriedly  put  his  prisoner  behind  the  bars  and  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  him  tried  and  convicted  of  a  series 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS, 


87 


of  thefts  and  house-breaking  exploits.  Mc  Partland  had 
for  many  years  been  operating  in  Brooklyn  and  was 
well  known  to  the.  police.  In  1865  he  committed  the 
Luqueer  robbery,  and  made  name  and  fame  for  himself, 
after  having  been  arrested,  by  gaining  his  liberty  in  a 
most  skilful  manner.  He  w^as  at  the  time  confined  in  a 
precinct  station  house,  w^here  he  underwent  the  usual 
'^pumping"  process  by  the  detectives  and  officials. 
After  admitting  having  stolen  the  goods  they  named  to 
him,  he  said  he  would  get  a  large  quantity  of  silverware 
(one  of  the  most  important  articles)  and  hand  it  over  to 
the  authorities  if  they  would  take  him  to  a  certain  house 
on  State  Street,  where  he  had  it  concealed.  The  captain 
consented,  and  two  officers  were  detailed  to  accompany 
him.  When  they  arrived  at  the  house  he  led  the  w^ay 
upstairs  into  a  bedroom,  wherein  he  said  the  property 
was  concealed  under  the  bed.  The  two  officers  folded 
their  arms  while  he  crawled  beneath  the  bed  and  waited 
patiently  for  him  to  come  out  with  the  silverware. 
Three,  four  and  five  minutes  passed  without  his  reap- 
pearance. Then  the  puzzled  guardians  of  the  peace  got 
down  on  their  knees  and  gazed  at  the  spring  mat- 
tress and  wall,  but  no  McPartland  could  be  found. 
They  became  alarmed  and,  drawing  away  the  bed, 
examined  the  floor  where  they  found  a  trap  door, 
though  w^hich  their  prisoner  had  escaped,  not  to  be 
caught  again  until  he  ran  against  Detective  Rorke  as 
described. 

The  arrest  of  Michael  Mahady  for  killing  his  wife  on 
the  night  of  February  20th  was  much  talked  about  at 
the  time.  Mahady,  while  drunk,  gave  his  wdfe,  Mary, 
such  a  beating  with  a  bed  slat  and  the  leg  of  a  stove 


88 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


that  she  died  from  the  effects  of  it  shortly  afterward  at 
the  house  of  a  friend. 

The  family  had  just  moved  into  new  apartments  at 
No.  203  Hudson  Avenue,  and  Mahady,  returning  home 
after  his  day's  work,  found  the  rooms  in  great  disorder. 
Instead  of  attempting  to  straighten  matters,  he  chas- 
tised his  wife.  She  seized  her  three  children  and  rushed 
from  the  house,  while  her  husband,  crazed  with  drink, 
followed  her  down  the  stairs,  raining  blows  on  her  head 
and  shoulders  until  she  reached  the  street,  while  the 
blood,  dripping  from  her  many  wounds,  made  an  un- 
broken trail  along  the  sidewalk  to  the  house  of  her 
friend,  where  she  died. 

The  most  interesting  arrest  of  the  year  was  made  by 
Captain  Kaiser  and  Detective  Ennis,  of  the  Sixth  Pre- 
cinct Station,  on  Stagg  Street,  in  the  Sixteenth  Ward, 
better  known  as Dutch  Town."  The  person  deprived 
of  liberty  this  time  was  Mrs.  Florence  May  Barton  Sault, 
a  beautiful  German  girl,  sixteen  years  of  age.  She  was 
charged  with  murdering  her  lover,  Frederick  Pfister. 

On  the  morning  of  July  26th,  Pfister  was  found  dead 
in  a  wagon  at  the  head  of  Scholes  Street.  His  death 
had  been  caused  by  a  bullet  wound,  fired  by  whom,  at 
the  time,  the  police  could  not  ascertain. 

When  the  murder  was  made  known  by  the  afternoon 
papers,  the  public  took  an  unusual  interest  in  it,  which 
never  diminished  until  the  trial  was  ended. 

As  near  as  could  be  learned,  the  murder  was  commit- 
ted in  the  following  manner  :  Florence,  who  was  gay 
and  indiscreet,  had  been  married  but  two  months,  when 
she  left  her  husband  and  spent  her  leisure  time  with 
young  Pfister,  who  took  her  to  the  picnics  and  excur- 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


89 


sions  for  which  Dutch  Town is  famous.  The  night 
before  Pfister  was  found  dead,  the  lovers  were  out  walk- 
ing, when  the  husband  met  them  and  a  quarrel  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  murder  in  question. 

When  Mrs.  Sault  was  arrested,  she  made  a  full  confes- 
sion of  the  crime,  which  at  first  was  believed.  She  averred 
that  she  had  fired  the  fatal  shot  in  cold  blood  at  the  instiga- 
tion of  her  husband,  who  had  been  arrested  and  lodged 
in  Raymond  Street  Jail.  Shortly  afterwards  the  "  child 
wife  "  made  a  statement  in  which  she  denied  being  the 
guilty  party,  and  accused  her  husband.  The  police  then 
weighed  well  her  stories,  w^hich  they  found  very  conflict- 
ing in  many  details,  and  decided  to  give  no  credence  to 
her  statements. 

Column  upon  column  was  devoted  to  the  case  by  the 
daily  press,  and  the  girl,  confined  in  the  woman's  prison 
of  the  same  jail  where  her  husband  had  been  placed,  be- 
came sick  and  so  nervous  that  she  w^ould  break  into 
hysterics  while  talking  of  the  affair  to  the  matron.  Miss 
Cunningham.  Mrs.  Sault  was  finally  acquitted  of  the 
charge  of  nmrder  and  given  her  liberty. 

This  as  well  as  the  preceding  year  is  marked  by  the 
increased  aversion  of  criminals  and  crooks  toward  visit- 
ing Brooklyn.  Once  they  were  certain  of  being  detected, 
now  they  are  almost  equally  certain  of  being  recognized 
the  moment  they  cross  the  bridge  and  of  being  sent  back 
to  New  York,  or  of  being  locked  uj)  by  Captain  Eason 
or  Campbell. 

It  is  one  of  the  boasts  of  the  detectives  that  they  are 
personally  acquainted  with  all  the  professional  criminals 
in  or  near  town.  The  results  of  this  acquaintance  are 
often  peculiar.    You  are  talking  with  Detective  Cham- 


90 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


bers,  a  few  feet  from  the  door  of  the  Clarendon  Hotel, 
and  he  sees  a  young  dandy  halt  a  few  feet  away. 

"Better  keep  right  on,"  he  says  to  the  dandy  ;  "  hurry 
up,  now. " 

"Oh,  good  mornmg,"  says  the  dandy;  "I'm  only 
gomg  to  set  my  watch." 

That  is  Harry  Ashton,  chief  of  the  bunco  men,  and 
the  detective  will  not  allow  him  to  stop  in  front  of  the 
hotel.  You  are  pushing  your  way  into  Leibman's  or 
•Wechsler  &  Abraham's  store,  and  a  little  ladylike  body 
is  just  ahead  of  you.  Suddenly  some  one  steps  up  to 
her  and  orders  her  to  "get  out  at  once."  "Certainly, 
si  r,^' she  says  meekly;  "I  was  only  going  to  match  a 
piece  of  silk. " 

She  lies.  She  is  a  shoplifter,  and  the  man  who  orders 
her  out  is  Detective  Corwin. 

Perhaps  you  are  at  a  Saengerband  ball,  with  its  five 
thousand  dancers  and  lookers-on.  You  walk  in  the 
lobby  for  a  breath  of  fresh  air  and  meet  Captain  Camp- 
bell, alert  and  handsome  as  an  eagle.  He  darts  from 
your  side  and  stands  in  front  of  a  stout  elderly  gentle- 
man so  as  to  oppose  his  progress. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  coming  here  ?"  The  man  an- 
swers boldly,  ' '  My  wife  is  here  and  I  have  come  to  take 
her  home." 

"That'll  do  now,''  says  the  captain;  "There's  the 
door,  now  get,"  and  as  Artemus  Ward  used  to  say,  "  he 
got. "    The  man  is  a  pickpocket. 

It  has  always  been  a  favorite  method  of  Captain 
Campbell's  to  say  to  rascals  of  various  sorts  :  "If  you 
ever  put  your  foot  in  my  precinct  again,  111  send  you 
up."    This  may  not  be  according  to  law,  but  it's  accord- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


91 


ing  to  fact,  and  they  give  that  precinct  a  wide  berth. 
Pickpockets  hke  the  Allen  Brothers  and  Maggie  Jordan 
have  a  hard  time  of  it.  No  matter  how  much  they  may 
want  to  see  a  play  or  a  ball  game,  or  attend  a  meeting, 
there  is  apt  to  be  some  one  to  stop  them  at  the  entrance 
with  a  '^right-about  face  now.  You  can't  get  in  here." 
It  is  a  common  thing  to  see  a  pickpocket  hustled  along 
like  a  bit  of  down  in  the  wind,  from  one  block  to  an- 
other, wdiile  apparently  an  innocent  spectator  of  a  street 
parade. 

This  constant  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  police,  es- 
pecially those  wiio  guard  the  approaches  from  New 
York,  makes  it  an  exceedingly  difficult  matter  for  a  non- 
resident criminal  to  enter  the  city  of  Brooklyn.  Even 
when  such  an  one  has  legitimate  business  there  he  must 
satisfactorily  explain  his  appearance  and  move  about 
wdth  the  knowledge  that  he  is  under  constant  police  sur- 
veillance. 

A  neatly  dressed,  rather  substantial-looking  man  of 
middle  age  sends  in  his  card  to  Superintendent  Campbell 
at  Police  Headquarters.  The  name  on  the  card  is  that 
of  a  burglar,  better  known  as  ''Eed  Leary,"  for  in- 
stance. 

Well,  wiiat  do  you  w^ant  ?"  Mr.  Campbell  asks. 

'^I  would  like  to  go  to  the  jail  for  fifteen  minutes  to- 
morrow^," says  the  burglar.  "I  want  to  see  a  friend 
about  a  personal  matter." 

''Here's  an  order,"  says  the  Chief,  and  the  burglar 
answers,  "Thank  you,"  for  it  is  a  favor  to  such  men  to 
be  allowed  to  approach  the  jail,  which  action,  without 
permission,  means  for  him  to  be  arrested  and  locked  up. 

The  criminal  wiio  would  attempt  to  deceive  the  Super- 


92 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIAXS. 


intendent  in  a  matter  of  this  kind  would  have  but  a 
sorry  time  of  it.  His  long  service  and  vast  experience 
make  him  an  accurate  judge  of  character,  and  it  is  all 
but  impossible  to  impose  upon  him.  Under  his  personal 
direction  this  constant  espionage  of  the  dangerous  classes 
becomes  as  near  an  exact  science  as  ingenuity  can  make 
it,  and  no  better  system  for  the  prevention  of  crime  could 
be  devised.  To  punish  the  detected  wrong-doer  is  com- 
paratively easy,  but  to  so  hedge  him  round  and  circum- 
scribe his  action  as  to  leave  him  the  smallest  possible  op- 
portunity for  the  commission  of  crime  is  the  neplus  ultra 
of  police  art. 


CHAPTER  VL 


The  Present  Status  of  the  Organization. 


The  IVIusTER  Roll. — The  Headquarters. — Where  the  Offices  are 
Situated. — One  Man  Power. — The  Commissioner,  His  Powers 
AND  Duties.— His  Annual  Report. — The  Deputy  Commissioner. 
—His  Duties. — The  Superintendent. — His  Duties  and  vast  Busi- 
ness.— Where  He  is. — His  Watch-dog. — Cranks  who  Worry 
Him. — The  Way  he  does  Business. — Two  Swini)li;i:s  Cross-Ex- 
amined.— The  Property-clerk  and  the  Propeiitv  liooMs. — What 
HE  does. — His  Curiosity-shop. — The  Fire  Marshal. — An  odd  Com 
BiNATiON  of  Duties. — The  Inspectors. — Captains  and  Command- 
ing sergeants. — Lines  not  thrown  in  easy  Places. — Multifar- 
ious WORK. — Roundsmen.— A  Patrolman's  lot  is  not  a  happy 
ONE. — AViiAT  He  does. — His  Offences. — How  to  be  a  Police- 
man.—What  HE  MUST  Measure  and  Weigh,  Kxow  and  Say. — 
The  Board  of  Excise. — Its  Jurisdiction  and  Duties. — The  Li- 
censes AND  the  License  fi:es. — The  ratio  of  saloons  to  the 
Population.  —Some  Organizations. 


HE  Brooklyn  Police  Department  to-day  amounts 


to  nine  hundred  and  seventy  two  men  all  told,  and 
consists  of  a  Commissioner,  Deputy- Commissioner,  Sup- 
erintendent, Property-clerk,  Superintendent-clerk,  Fire- 
Marshal,  four  Clerks,  three  Inspectors,  seventeen  Cap- 
tains and  Commanding-Sergeants,  seventy-two  Ser- 
geants, forty-four  Detectives,  thirty-eight  Roundsmen, 
seven  hundred  and  seven  Patrolmen  and  thirty- eight 
doormen,  five  Police-Surgeons,  Telegraph  Superinten- 
dent, six  Telegraph  operators  and  two  linemen.  Superin- 
tendent of  boiler  inspection,  one  Clerk  and  five  Inspectors, 
fourteen  bridge-keepers,  a  Counsel,  one  Messenger,  and 
one  searcher. 

The  lieart  of  the  Police  system,  of  course,  is  centered  at 


91 


BKOOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS. 


"Headquarters/'  which  is  located  in  the  Municipal  build- 
ing on  Joralemon  Street,  just  in  the  rear  of  the  City  Hall. 

Here  are  the  offices  of  the  Commissioner  and  his 
deputy,  the  Property  Clerk,  the  Board  of  Police  Sur- 
geons, the  Accountant  to  the  Department,  the  Superin- 
tendent and  his  three  Inspectors,  the  Central  Office  squad 
of  Detectives,  the  Central  Office  squad  of  Patrolmen, 
who  are  detailed  to  Police  Courts  and  other  extra  work, 
the  Fire  Marshal,  the  Telegraph  Bureau  and  the  steam 
Engineers  and  Boiler  Inspection  Bureau,  which  is  under 
the  control  of  the  Police  Department. 

Under  the  beneficent  system  of  Home  Rule,  which  now 
characterizes  the  government  of  Brooklyn,  and  which 
offers  so  happy  a  contrast  to  the  former  custom  of  doing 
municij^al  work  by  means  of  cumbrous,  irresponsible 
Bureaus  and  commissions,  the  Commissioner  of  Police 
is  appointed  by  the  Mayor,  and  holds  his  position  during 
the  latter's  term  of  office. 

The  Commissioner  is  removable  by  the  Mayor  for  mis- 
feasance or  non-feasance  of  office,  subject  to  the  confirm- 
ation of  the  government  of  the  State,  and  probably  to  the 
appellate  judgment  of  the  higher  courts.  He  appoints 
members  of  the  force  from  the  lists  prepared  by  examiners 
of  successful  candidates,  entertains  and  tries  all  charges 
against  the  officers  of  his  department,  punishes  all  offend- 
ers found  guilty,  makes  transfers  and  changes  of  his  own 
act,  or  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Superintendent,  attends  ta 
improvements  and  extensions,  of  his  administration,  and 
generally  supervises  the  working  of  the  police  system. 
He  makes  an  annual  report  to  the  Mayor  of  everything 
pertaining  to  his  dejjartment,  which  is  incorporated  in 
the  Mayor's  annual  message.    The  deputy-Commissioner 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


95 


takes  the  Commissioner's  place  in  the  latter's  absence, 
sickness  or  disabihty,  with  the  same  jurisdiction  and 
authority.  He  then  has  power  to  perform  all  the  ordi- 
nary duties  of  the  Commissioner,  excepting  only  the 
power  to  make  appointments,  which  is  specially  re- 
served to  the  Commissioner.  When  the  Commissioner 
is  present  the  deputy  acts  under  his  orders  as  his  chief 
subordinate.  Besides  this,  the  deputy  attends  to  nearly 
all  the  clerical  and  mechanical  duties  of  the  Commission- 
er's office.  The  offices  of  the  Commissioner  and  deputy 
are  situated  on  the  third  floor  of  the  Municipal  Building. 

The  Superintendent  is  one  of  the  hardest -worked  men 
of  the  force — that  is,  if  he  does  his  duty.  And  it  may 
be  said  here  that  the  two  gentlemen  who  have  filled  the 
position  since  its  organization  have  been  intelligent  and 
indefatigable  workers.  He  receives  all  official  communi- 
cations from  the  precincts  and  the  special  bureaus  under 
his  command,  oversees  the  conduct  and  police  transac- 
tions of  his  inferiors,  corresponds  with  similar  depart- 
ments in  the  great  cities  of  the  New  World  and  Old.  is 
in  personal  command  of  the  Central  Office  detectives 
and  the  Central  Office  squad,  and  attends  to  nearly  all 
the  special  business  between  the  force  and  private  citi- 
zens, and  the  general  business  between  it,  the  courts  and 
the  District  Attorney's  office. 

The  office  of  the  Superintendent  of  Police  is  situated 
on  the  second  floor  of  the  building,  and  consists  of  a 
suite  of  three  spacious  rooms,  one  of  which  is  used  as  a 
private  office,  another  to  transact  the  bulk  of  the  busi- 
ness, while  a  third  is  reserved  for  his  clerk.  The  Super- 
intendent is  not  by  any  means  difficult  of  access, 
although  visitors  are  closely  sciutinized  by  a  messenger 


96 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


in  the  outer  office,  who  does  all  in  his  power  to  keep  any 
person  out  who  would  prove  a  disagreeable  visitor.  Per- 
sons who  are  not  posted  as  to  the  routine  of  business  at 
Police  Headquarters  can  have  no  idea  of  the  number  of 
callers  on  the  Chief  daily.  Citizens  drop  in  upon  him 
with  all  sorts  of  grievances,  while  once  and  a  while  an 
interesting  crank  will  make  things  lively  for  a  while 
around  the  offices. 

One  day  a  well-dressed  and  distinguished  looking  gen- 
tleman visited  the  Superintendent  and  asked  him  to  de- 
tail a  squad  of  men  to  capture  a  crowd  of  small  boys 
who  continually  followed  him  shouting  names  not  be- 
longing to  a  gentleman.  The  man  turned  out  to  be  a 
lunatic.  He  imagined  that  a  crowd  of  boys  followed 
him,  no  matter  where  he  might  go.  The  Superintendent 
told  the  visitor  that  he  would  put  his  detectives  on  the 
case  at  once.  He  then  de23arted  happy.  On  another 
occasion  a  woman  excitedly  remarked  that  the  telegraph 
companies  had  laid  wires  all  over  her  house,  which  were 
drawing  blood  from  her  children's  bodies.  The  Superin- 
tendent of  the  telegraph  bureau  was  immediately  sum- 
moned, and  instructed  to  have  the  wires  removed.  This 
satisfied  the  woman,  who  left  showering  expressions  of 
gratitude  upon  the  Chief. 

Besides  attending  to  the  complaints  of  all  kinds  of 
visitors,  the  Superintendent  every  morning  receives  the 
returns  and  all  special  reports  from  each  police  station 
in  the  city,  each  Captain  making  a  personal  call.  His 
office  is  connected  by  telephone  and  telegraph  with  all 
the  precincts,  the  Fire  Department,  District  Attorney's 
office,  the  hospitals  that  receive  police  cases,  and  the 
New  York  Police  Department. 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  97 

Whenever  any  prisoner  who  has  been  arrested  for  any 
offence  which  necessitates  the  possession  of  his  picture  in 
the  Rogue's  Gallery  has  been  taken  from  the  station 
house  to  the  Police  Court  his  next  step  is  to  Police  Head- 
quarters, where  he  is  taken  l)efore  Superintendent 
Campbell  for  his  examination.  Men  and  womeii  who 
haA'e  committed  larcenies  of  any  description,  burglars, 
swindlers,  sneak  thieves,  and  the  like,  all  find  their  way 
to  the  Superintendent's  private  office,  where  they  are 
put  through  a  course  of  interrogatory  si)routs  by  that 
wily  and  experienced  official.  It  is  surprising  how  easy 
it  is  to  lie  and  how  hard  it  is  to  maintain  the  falsehood. 
Some  of  the  interviews  which  the  Superintendent  has 
with  wrongdoers  are  amusing.  On  one  occasion  there 
were  two  men  taken  before  him.  One  was  about  fifty 
years  old,  gray- haired,  slightly  bald  and  wore  a  mustache 
and  goatee.  He  was  of  genteel  appearance,  and  would 
have  passed  for  an  honest  man  anywhere.  The  other 
w^as  rather  swarthy,  with  jet  black  hair  and  considerably 
younger  than  his  companion.  He  too  was  well  dressed, 
but  there  was  something  about  him  Avhich  was  liable  to 
create  suspicion.  He  had  a  nervous  and  sneaky  man- 
ner and  restless  eyes.  These  two  men  were  arrested  for 
attempted  swindling.  They  had  a  paper  with  a  printed 
head  which  represented  that  they  were  authorized  to 
collect  money  for  the  Relief  Fund  of  the  Fire  Depart- 
ment. This  paper  they  had  printed  themselves,  and  it 
is  not  known  how  many  people  they  swindled,  because 
when  they  were  arrested  the  elder  of  the  two  either  de- 
stroyed or  threw  the  document  away ;  at  any  rate  the 
police  never  got  it.  Of  all  places  in  the  world  to  go  to 
get  money,  this  precious  pair  of  knaves  went  to  the 


98 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


house  of  the  Little  Sisters  of  the  Poor  in  Eighth  Avenue 
near  Sixteenth  Street,  South  Brooklyn.  It  was  when 
they  were  leaving  this  institution  that  they  were  arrested. 
When  they  were  ushered  in  before  the  Superintendent 
the  latter  asked  one  of  the  officers  what  they  were  ar- 
rested for,  and  was  informed.  The  superintendent  simu- 
lated surprise  that  such  respectable -looking  men  could 
be  guilty  of  any  offence  at  all. 

'^What  is  your  name,  sir,  please  ?"  he  said  to  the 
youngest  in  a  tone  of  almost  fatherly  interest. 

Charles  Johnson." 

Where  do  you  reside  V 

In  Washington  Street." 

Brooklyn  ?" 
^^Yes." 

"  What  number  in  Washington  Street  ?" 
"  I  think  it  is  No.  108,  but  I  am  not  sure." 

What  street  is  it  near  ?" 
^'I  can't  tell ;  I  don't  know  Brooklyn  very  well." 
''How  long  have  you  lived  in  Brooklyn,  Mr.  John- 
son ?" 

"  About  two  weeks." 

''And  you  are  not  sure  of  the  number  of  the  house 
you  live  in  or  near  what  street  it  is  ?" 
"Well,  I'm  a  stranger  here." 

"  How  did  you  come  to  be  mixed  up  in  this  trouble  ?" 

"I  had  nothing  to  do  with  it,  sir.  This  man  showed 
me  a  paper  and  asked  me  to  go  with  him,  and  I  went.^ 
Then  we  were  arrested." 

"  What  was  on  the  paper  ?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"Didn't  you  see  it?" 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


99 


"  Only  the  outside. 

Didn't  he  teh  yon  what  it  was  ?" 
^^No." 

So  yon  went  with  him  on  the  strength  of  a  paper 
which  yon  knew  nothing  about,  and  on  an  errand  which 
you  wxre  ignorant  of,  is  that  it  ?" 

Well,  he  didn't  tell  me  anything  about  it." 

What  is  your  business,  Mr.  Johnson  ?" 

I'm  an  agent." 
"  For  what  ?" 

^^Oh,  books  and  light  articles." 

Canvassing  now  ?" 
^^Yes,  sir." 
^^"What  for?" 

Mr.  Johnson  couldn't  tell,  neither  could  he  tell  by 
whom  he  was  employed,  and  was  so  clearly  broken  up 
that  the  Superintendent  released  him,  and  turning  his 
smiling  face  to  the  elder  man  said  :  And  what  is  your 
name  ?" 

WiUiam  Richards." 

Do  you  live  in  Brooklyn  ?" 

No  ;  but  on  account  of  my  family  I  do  not  want  to 
give  my  address." 

Certainly,  that  is  entirely  your  business  ;  you  are 
not  compelled  to  answer  my  questions  if  you  don't  want 
to.  Now  about  this  charge  made  against  you ;  have 
you  anything  to  say  ?" 

No,  sir,"  he  replied  with  almost  Chesterfieldian  grace, 
^  ^  and  I  desire  you  to  understand  that  I  refuse  to  do  this 
not  because  of  your  official  position,  but  because  my 
counsel  has  advised  me,  enjoined  me  in  fact,  to  say 
nothing  about  my  case." 


iOO  BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS. 

''That  is  perfectly  correct,  Mr.  Eichards,"  said  the 
Superintendent,  "your  "counsel  has  your  case  in  hand 
and  he  does  not  want  you  to  spoil  any  chances  of  suc- 
cess.   Well,  gentlemen,  that's  all.    Good  afternoon." 

The  men  returned  the  Superintendent's  salutation  and 
walked  out.  They  were  an  accomplished  pair  of  swind- 
lers, and  the  gray-haired  Chesterfield  by  far  the  more 
dangerous  of  the  two.  Both  of  them  were  indicted  and 
convicted. 

The  property-clerk  has  charge  of  all  the  station  sup- 
plies of  the  department,  and  of  lost  or  stolen  property 
found  by  the  police.  The  importance  of  the  position 
may  be  ascertained  from  the  fact  that  since  it  was  or- 
ganized, it  has  received  about  two  million  dollars  worth 
of  property  of  this  class,  of  which  one  million  eight  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  worth  has  been  returned  to  right- 
ful owners.  Property  left  unclaimed  after  a  time  set 
by  law,  is  sold  at  public  auction,  and  the  proceeds  cov- 
ered into  the  city  treasury.  The  shelves  of  the  prop- 
erty-room are  so  covered  with  different  objects  as  to 
make  a  veritable  curiosity- shop.  Here  is  a  sword  and 
belt  left  in  a  bar-room  by  a  tipsy  soldier,  and  there  a  lot 
of  stolen  silverware  recovered  from  a  pawnshop.  Here 
are  diamonds  and  jewelry  taken  from  the  person  of  a 
burglar,  and  there  a  vast  bundle  of  linen  dropped  by  a 
clothes  line  thief  ;  packages  of  books  dropped  by  an 
absent-minded  book-worm  ;  a  coat  thrown  away  by  a 
fugitive  thief  ;  revolvers  confiscated  by  the  police  from 
youths  who  had  read  dime  novels,  and  had  determined 
to  become  highwaymen,  pirates  or  Indian  fighters  ; 
clocks  and  bric-a-brac  left  by  the  owner  in  a  deserted 
dwelling  ;  pictures  rescued  from  a  burning  building,  or 


^  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  101 

personal  effects  found  in  the  rooms  of  the  soHtary  dead. 

The  position  of  fire-marshal  is  anomalous.  He  is  a 
curious  hybrid  of  policeman,  fireman,  insurance  agent, 
detective,  recorder  and  magistrate.  His  duties  are  to 
attend  fires  within  the  city  limits  ;  assist  and  supervise 
in  the  protection  and  rescuing  of  life  and  property  ;  to 
investigate  the  causes  of  a  fire  ;  to  recommend  judicial 
action  and  take  proceedings  w^here  there  is  evidence  of 
arson  ;  to  ascertain  losses  and  insurances  ;  to  keep  a  rec- 
ord of  all  fires  ;  and  to  report  misconduct  on  the  part  of 
policemen  or  firemen  to  their  respective  departments. 
The  fire -marshal  is  nearly  always  an  insurance  agent, 
and  has  every  incentive  to  prevent  and  extinguish  fires 
and  to  save  all  that  is  salvable  from  the  flames.  The 
position,  while  good  from  a  business  standpoint,  has 
many  disagreeable  elements.  It  brings  the  official  into 
unpleasant  relations  with  many  of  his  fellow-officials, 
and  into  constant  collisions  with  that  large  class  of  peo- 
ple who,  whenever  they  suffer  from  a  fire,  endeavor  to 
distort  and  magnify  their  losses  in  order  to  obtain  as 
much  money  as  is  possible  from  the  insurance  companies 
from  which  they  have  policies. 

The  inspectors  are  practically  deputy-superintendents, 
and  serve  to  relieve  their  chief  of  much  clerical  labor. 
They  also  attend  to  the  drilling  and  technical  training  of 
the  force,  and  visit  constantly  every  station-house  and 
all  parts  of  the  city  to  see  that  the  discipline  is  main- 
tained and  that  police  work  is  properly  performed. 

The  inspectors  are  appointed  from  the  ranks  of  the 
captains,  the  three  present  incumbents  being  no  excep- 
tion to  the  rule.  In  the  absence  of  the  superintendent, 
they  take  his  place  by  turns.    In  their  outside  work. 


102         .  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


each  confines  himself  to  one  district,  made  up  of  several 
precincts,  the  city  being  divided  for  this  purpose  into 
three  inspectoral  districts.  In  very  busy  seasons,  when 
the  superintendent  is  unable  to  receive  all  who  call  upon 
him  on  business  and  attend  to  other  duties  of  his  at  the 
same  time,  they  are  called  upon  to  assist  him  in  both  re- 
gards. 

The  Captains  and  commanding  Sergeants  govern  the 
precincts  and  sub-precincts.  They  supervise  the  work 
of  the  men  beneath  them,  attend  to  all  special  cases, 
keep  in  constant  communication  with  Headquarters, 
and  make  a  daily  report  of  everything  that  has  occurred 
in  the  precinct  during  the  preceding  twenty-four  hours. 
They  are  responsible  for  the  appearance  of  their  men 
and  the  condition  of  the  station-house  of  which  they 
are  in  charge.  They  investigate  all  applications  for 
licenses  for  liquor  stores,  including  the  character  and 
reputation  of  the  applicant  and  the  place  and  the  con- 
dition of  the  neighborhood,  and  report  thereon  to  the 
Commissioners  of  Excise. 

They  also  inquire  into  all  cases  of  contagious  and  in- 
fectious diseases,  public  nuisances,  unwholesome  food, 
and  everything  detrimental  to  public  health,  and  report 
thereupon  to  the  Board  of  Health.  Evasions  and  viola- 
tions of  the  fire  and  building  laws  they  report,  and  of 
the  statutes  as  to  the  sale  of  combustibles  and  explosives, 
to  the  appropriate  departments,  and  of  the  ordinances 
to  the  Corporation  Counsel's  office. 

The  roundsman  is  but  a  patrolman  of  a  higher  grade. 
They  number  thirty-eight,  being  two  apiece  to  each  of 
the  precincts  and  sub-precincts.  He  performs  the  same 
duties  as  the  latter,  to  a  large  extent.    He  also  acts  as  a 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


policeman  upon  the  police,  seeing  that  they  do  their  work 
and  violate  no  rule  nor  regulation.  He  enjoys  greater 
liberty  than  his  inferior,  but  enjoys  no  less  onerous  posi- 
tion. 

The  average  citizen  has,  at  the  best,  but  a  vague  idea 
of  the  variety  and  character  of  the  work  done  by  the 
policemen  of  Brooklyn.  He  sees  an  officer,  stout,  robust 
and  warmly  clad,  lounging  along  the  sidewalk,  and  in- 
voluntarily makes  the  mental  comment  that  a  police- 
man's life  must  be  one  of  the  easiest  in  the  w^orld.  He 
does  not  consider  that  the  officer  contemplated  may  be  a 
conscientious  roundsman  or  sergeant  following  at  a  pa- 
trolman's heel  to  detect  any  bad  habits  the  latter  may 
have  in  violation  of  the  rules,  which  may  cost  the  poor 
fellow  four  or  five  days'  pay.  If  an  officer  stops  a  few 
minutes  to  talk  with  a  citizen  on  the  street,  and  cannot 
prove,  if  brought  before  Commissioner  Carroll,  that  he 
was  speaking  on  official  business,  he  is  amenable  to  dis- 
cipline, or  if  on  some  cold  winter  night  he  drops  into 
some  warm  bakehouse  or  slides  through  a  convenient 
side  door  for  an  inside  protection  against  the  cold,  he  is 
liable,  if  caught,  to  make  an  involuntary  contribution  to 
the  Widows  and  Orphans'  Fund.  The  policeman  has  no 
easy  time  of  it  when  he  conscientiously  does  what  he  is 
called  upon  to  do.  In  all  seasons  he  has  to  keep  on  post 
without  a  break,  from  the  hour  of  going  on  duty  until 
he  is  relieved  by  his  follower.  He  must  be  at  his  reliev- 
ing point  exactly  at  the  time  when  his  relief  is  expected. 
He  must  try  all  the  doors  on  his  post  on  each  round,  and 
take  a  note  of  the  location  of  such  gas  lamps  on  his 
post  as  are  unlighted,  of  those  which  burn  imperfectly, 
and  the  ones  blown  out  by  the  wind.    He  must  preserve 


lOi        '  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

peace  at  all  hazards  on  his  tour,  and  must  hold  himself 
in  readiness  to  grapple,  at  a  moment's  notice,  with  a 
reckless  burglar,  a  mad  dog  or  a  dangerous  lunatic. 

If  a  timid  citizen  hears  a  noise  in  his  cellar,  the  police- 
man, if  called,  must  go  into  that  cellar  and  investigate 
the  matter  thoroughly.  He  is  supposed  to  do  his  best  to 
stop  runaway  horses,  to  send  for  an  ambulance  in  case 
of  an  accident,  or  the  dead  wagon  when  he  hears  of  an 
unattended  death  on  his  post.  He  must  rescue  persons 
Avho  have  fallen  into  the  river,  if  his  patrol  should  hap- 
pen to  be  along  the  water  front,  assist  at  fires,  direct 
strangers,  and  civilly  answer  any  ridiculous  questions 
that  may  be  put  to  him.  He  must  act  as  arbi- 
ter in  family  disputes,  prevent  any  street  obstruction, 
see  that  no  taxable  occupations  are  carried  on  without  a 
license,  take  lost  children  to  the  station-house,  and  keep 
his  post  clear  of  drunken  people.  Besides  this,  in  sum- 
mer time,  he  has  to  make  a  census  of  all  dogs  on  his 
tour,  make  out  a  list  of  persons  carrying  on  a  taxable 
business,  and  in  winter,  make  complaints  in  cases  where 
merchants  and  housekeepers  do  not  keep  their  sidewalk 
clear  of  ice  and  slush.  He  is  supposed  to  prevent  bon- 
fires, keep  the  pavement  clear  of  corner  loafers,  have  an 
eye  on  all  suspicious  characters,  report  violations  of  the 
ash  gatherers  and  gai'bage  contractors'  obligations  to  the 
city,  make  a  note  of  dirty  streets,  report  all  dangerous 
structures,  guard  vacant  houses,  and,  finally,  keep  his 
uniform  in  good  order,  his  shoes  polished,  and  presei^ve 
a  generally  neat  appearance. 

A  policeman  who  is  found  violating  any  of  the  rules 
or  regulations,  or  guilty  of  conduct  unbecoming  an 
officer,  is  notified  to  appear  before  the  Commissioner  on 


BKOOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS. 


105 


the  next  trial,  and  defend  himself  against  a  complaint 
embodying  his  fault.  He  is  tried  and  punished  in  the 
same  manner  as  before  a  judicial  tribunal. 

A  man  to  become  a  policeman  must  have  certain  phys- 
ical and  mental  qualifications.  He  must  be  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  and  have  been  a  resident  of  the  City 
of  Brooklyn  four  years  prior  to  his  application.  He 
must  be  not  less  than  twenty-six,  nor  more  than  thirty 
years  of  age,  and  must  be  not  less  than  five  feet  eight 
inches  in  height,  nor  more  than  six  feet  three  inches. 
He  must  exceed  a  minimum  weight  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  pounds  to  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  pounds, 
according  to  his  height  and  a  chest  measure  of  not  less 
than  thirty-four  inches.  He  must  also  be  in  good  phys- 
ical condition.  He  is  required  to  know  all  the  streets, 
wards  and  precincts,  the  horse  car  and  railroad  routes, 
the  ferries,  and  leading  buildings  and  places  in  the  city. 
The  physical  requirements  are  passed  upon  by  the  Board 
of  Police  Surgeons,  and  the  mental  by  the  Civil  Service 
Commissioners  of  Brooklyn. 

Large  men  are  not  considered  as  available  as  medium- 
sized  for  poHce  purposes.  In  a  conversation  with  In- 
spector Mackellar,  the  subject  fell  upon  a  big  policeman 
who  was  close  to  the  seven  feet  mark,  and  who  chanced 
to  pass  by.  His  stride  was  enormous,  his  smile  self- 
satisfied,  and  his  long  coat-tails  flapped  in  the  breeze. 
He  Sevang  a  stick  that  looked  like  a  toothpick  in  his 
ham-hke  right  hand.  Pedestrians  could  not  help  casting 
an  admiring  glance  at  the  majestic  figure,  and  many 
turned,  after  passing,  to  take  a  rear  view.  Isn't  he 
magnificent  ?"  said  a  blushing  girl  to  her  companion,  as 
she  opened  her  eyes  wide  to  take  in  all  of  the  command- 


106 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


ing  figure  at  once.  This  remark  brought  a  smile  to  the 
face  of  the  gallant  but  somewhat  cynical  inspector. 

The  majority  of  people,"  he  said,  as  the  big  fellow 
went  out  of  sight,  ' '  seem  to  have  an  idea  that  size  is  all 
that  is  necessary  in  a  policeman,  and  the  larger  the  man 
the  better  officer  he  will  make.  No  one  has  more  ad- 
miration for  a  fine  specimen  of  physical  development 
than  I  have,  but  I  know  from  observation  that  men  of 
extraordinary  size,  while  they  may  be  pleasing  to  the 
eye  and  give  the  timid  citizen  a  sense  of  security  that  is 
gratifying,  do  not  make  the  best  records  for  service  in 
the  Police  Department  as  a  rule.  It  is  a  common  wish 
and  one  that  I  have  often  heard  expressed,  that  it  would 
be  a  splendid  thing  if  the  policemen  of  this  city  were  all 
as  large  as  the  giants  who  made  up  the  pet  command  of 
Frederick  the  Great.  If  this  could  be  brought  about  I 
s  am  satisfied  that  the  efficiency  of  the  department  would 
be  diminished  at  least  one  half.  Such  a  band  of  men 
would  frighten  a  mob,  and  make  them  law-abiding  citi- 
zens by  their  appearance,  but  mobs  do  not  form  every 
day.  What  is  needed  in  an  officer  is  the  capacity  to 
stand  the  humdrum  service  of  every -day  life.  Just  take 
the  record  of  the  department  for  a  moment.  I  will 
wager  it  will  show  that  fully  seventy-five  per  cent,  of 
the  men  on  the  sick  list  are,  as  a  rule,  the  biggest  men 
in  the  various  precincts.  These  big  fellows  look  hardy 
and  as  if  they  could  stand  everything.  What  they  lack 
is  endurance.  They  carry  around  a  big  weight  usually, 
and  their  feet  give  out.  They  seem  to  be  subject  to  ail- 
ments that  smaller  men  escape,  and  complain  almost 
constantly  of  pains  all  over  their  body. 

"  It  is  my  experience  that  men  about  five  feet  and  nine 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


inches  in  height  stand  the  wear  and  tear  of  pohce  hfe 
the  best.  The  big  men  are  slow  and  awkward,  while 
men  of  the  height  mentioned  are  active,  alert  and  vigor- 
ous, and  more  than  make  up  in  agility  what  they  lack  in 
strength.  Size,  if  everything  else  were  equal,  could  be 
made  a  safe  standard  of  judgment,  but  as  the  human 
frame  is  put  together  it  is  the  big  man  for  a  short  tussle 
and  the  smaller  one  for  a  steady  strain,  and  the  latter  is 
what  a  policeman  must  be  fitted  for." 

The  Board  of  Excise. 

The  Board  of  Excise,  which  is  a  valuable  adjunct  to 
the  police,  and  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  city,  is  com- 
posed of  three  members,  the  Commissioner  of  Police  and 
two  Commissioners  of  Excise.  The  latter  are  appointed 
by  the  Mayor  in  the  same  manner  and  subject  to  the 
same  conditions  as  the  former.  Their  jurisdiction  com- 
prises the  issuing  of  licenses  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
liquors,  the  entertaining,  hearing  and  determination  of 
complaints  against  licensed  dealers,  the  revocation  of 
licenses,  the  collection  of  excise  fees,  the  i^rosecution  of 
forfeited  bonds  and  their  transfer  to  the  city  treasury. 
As  the  statute  requires  that  a  dealer  must  be  a  person  of 
good  moral  character,  they  must  satisfy  themselves  upon 
this  point  before  taking  action.  They  entertain  com- 
plaints against  licensed  dealers  for  selling  in  illegal 
hours  or  on  Sunday,  for  keeping  a  disorderly  house  and 
for  false  impersonation  in  making  applications.  The 
only  penalty  the  law  allows  them  to  inflict  is  the  revoca- 
tion of  the  license.  As  this  is  a  very  severe  punishment, 
they  modify  it  in  practice  by  a  reprimand  to  the  dealer, 
putting  a  place  under  police  surveillance  and  requiring  a 


108 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


proprietor  to  keep  the  interior  of  his  saloon  visible  from 
the  street  during  prohibited  times,  with  a  suspension  of 
judgment.  They  grant  four  kinds  of  licenses,  viz. :  hotel, 
taverns,  storekeepers  and  beer  licenses. 

In  1887  there  were  about  3,100  licensed  places  in  Brook- 
lyn, whose  license  fees  aggregated  over  $300,000.  The 
number  increases  steadily  from  year  to  year,  but  bears 
even  to-day  a  much  smaller  ratio  to  the  population  than 
obtains  in  the  other  great  cities  of  the  United  States. 
For  their  information  the  Commissioners  depend  chiefly 
upon  the  Police  Force,  although  they  obtain  considerable 
knowledge  from  their  own  subordinates,  from  private 
citizens  and  from  liquor  dealers  and  Prohibition  Societies, 
the  first  of  the  two  latter  being  organized  into  the  East- 
ern District  Liquor  Dealers'  Protective  Union,  the  West- 
ern District  Liquor  Dealers'  Protective  Association  and 
the  Brewers'  Union,  and  the  second  into  quite  a  number 
of  small  but  active  associations. 


CHAPTER  VIL 
The  Heads  of  Police  and  Excise. 


The  Official  Head  of  Police. — Commissioner  Thomas  Carroll — His 
Birth  and  Early  Career. — His  Youth  in  Williamsburgh. — An 
Apprentice  Cooper. — A  Boss. — A  Tobacco-sampler — His  Pros- 
perity AND  Business-career. — A  Born  Politician— Delegate 
.  AND  Leader.— His  Political  Work.— The  Secret  of  his  Popular- 
ity.—The  Head  of  the  Force.— Superintendent  Patkick 
Campbell.— His  Daily  Life.— A  Boy  in  the  Eagle  Office.— 
From  "  Devil"  to  Foreman.— A  Politician.— Collector.— Sheriff 
— Chief. — His  Superb  Management. — He  Protects  Vacant 
Homes. — Drives  out  Sneak  Thie\'es. — Closes  Disorderly  Places. 
His  Detectia'e  Genius. — Searching  a  whole  City. — His  Person- 
ality.— The  Twin  Heads  of  Excise. — "Honest  John  Cunning- 
ham "  AND  John  Schliemann. — Brief  Story  of  their  Lives. 

OZlXTY  years  ago,  on  next  November  25th,  in  a  little 
Irish  village  called  Mount  Mellick,  a  future  Police 
Commissioner  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn  was  ushered  into 
the  world.  There  were  many  CarroUs  of  Queens  County 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  addition  of  Thomas  to  their 
ranks,  for  so  he  was  named,  only  served  to  increase  their 
number,  already  too  many  to  live  under  the  pressure  of 
high  rents,  heartless  laws,  bad  harvests  and  no  hope.  In 
this  picturesque  but  poverty-stricken  country,  young- 
Thomas  Carroll  spent  the  first  years  of  his  life.  In  early 
boyhood  he  began  to  evince  the  qualities  which  in  after  life 
were  to  make  him  successful  in  business  and  public  affairs. 
Impetuous,  enthusiastic,  generous,  quick,  nervous,  genial 
and  inteUigent,  he  was  even  at  this  time  a  loved  leader 


110 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


among  his  playmates.  Here  he  learned  the  rudiments 
of  education  and  struggled  with  the  bete  noir  of  all  boy- 
hood, the  three  E's. 

The  success  of  the  Irish  emigrant  in  the  United  States 
was  bearing  fruit  in  his  far-away  home.  A  great  exodus 
had  begun  which  was  to  last  for  the  remainder  of  the 
century.  It  extended  to  the  smallest  towns  in  the  inter- 
ior of  the  island,  and  made  itself  felt  in  Mount  Mellick. 
The  CarroUs,  and  many  of  them,  yielded  and  joined  the 
ceaseless  procession  that  was  moving  across  the  ocean. 
With  them  was  Thomas  Carroll,  who  in  September, 
183G,  arrived  in  New  York  City.  Here  he  resided  in  Eld- 
ridge  Street,  in  the  Tenth  Ward,  two  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Williamsburgh,  at  that  time  a  young,  lively 
and  growing  city,  but  soon  to  be  incorporated  with  its 
larger  neighbor,  Brooklyn. 

Between  1836  and  184:3  he  received  a  good  common- 
school  education.  He  possessed  a  taste  for  reading  and 
conversation  with  older  and  wiser  people,  so  that  when  in 
the  year  last  mentioned  he  commenced  his  business 
career,  he  started  with  a  well-trained  and  informed  mind 
and  with  the  natural  and  acquired  aptitudes  which  gen- 
erally guarantee  success  in  life. 

In  those  days  the  ambition  of  youth  was  not  toward 
the  clerk's  desk  and  the  dry-goods  counter  as  it  is  in  the 
present  time,  but  looked  forward  to  prominence  in  some 
skilled  trade.  Apprenticeships  were  still  in  vogue.  Men 
"  served  their  time  "  before  being  allowed  to  undertake 
any  job  involving  skilful  labor.  The  cheap  botch- work, 
the  stereotyped  products  of  labor-saving  machinery  and 
the  untrained  toilers,  so  characteristic  of  to-day,  were 
then  almost  unknown.    Carroll  entered  a  large  cooper- 


THOMAS  CARROLL, 
Commissioner  of  Police . 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


113 


shop,  and  there  served  his  time  of  five  years.  He  was  a 
rapid  learner,  and  soon  earned  good  wages.  He  was 
temperate,  intelhgent  and  capable,  and  so  won  the  esteem 
of  his  superiors  that,  when  his  apprenticeship  ended,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  foremanship  of  the  shop.  He  re- 
mained in  this  position  two  years,  satisfying  at  the  same 
time  his  employers  and  the  numerous  employees  whom 
he  superintended.  During  this  period  he  saw  that  his 
trade,  though  a  good  one,  was  not  as  remunerative  as  he 
desired,  and  that  the  same  ability  and  energy  applied  in 
mercantile  life  would  be  productive  of  far  greater  re- 
sults. He  looked  about  for  an  opportunity  and  con- 
cluded that  he  could  do  best  in  the  tobacco  industry. 
Situations  were  few  and  far  between,  but  to  obtain  a 
start,  he  accepted  a  position  of  porter  and  barrelman  with 
the  then  prominent  Front  Street  house  of  Patterson  & 
Dortic.  He  was  a  porter  but  two  months,  and  was 
then  promoted  to  be  a  sampler.  At  the  end  of  the  first 
year  he  was  again  put  forward  and  made  the  shipping 
and  receiving  clerk.  Within  another  few  months  his 
employers  again  advanced  him,  this  time  to  the  position 
of  general  salesman.  He  remained  with  the  firm  until 
1861,  when,  its  members  having  accumulated  as  much 
money  as  they  desired  and  retired  from  trade,  it  went 
into  liquidation.  He  had  done  well  in  the  eleven  years 
of  service,  and  had  saved  his  surplus  earnings  until,  at 
the  time  of  the  dissolution,  he  found  himself  the  owner 
of  a  moderate  capital.  Not  wasting  his  time  in  useless 
delay,  he  immediately  formed  a  partnership  and  opened 
mercantile  life  on  his  own  account  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Hawkins  &  Carroll.    It  dealt  chiefly  in  Ameri- 


114 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


can  tobaccos,  and  from  the  start  did  a  good  business  and 
stood  well  in  the  market. 

After  two  prosperous  years,  it  admitted  John  G.  Guth- 
rie, a  leading  manufacturer,  of  Petersburgh,  Virginia, 
and  extended  its  business  to  far  greater  proportions.  It 
established  a  large  manufactory  in  Water  Street,  near 
Pearl,  in  this  city,  and  employed  a  regiment  of  opera- 
tives. This  was  the  second  great  tobacco  factory  started 
in  Brooklyn,  and  was  an  important  step  in  the  process 
which  has  since  changed  the  water-front  from  a  neigh- 
borhood of  small  dwelling-houses,  tenements  and  stores 
into  a  wealthy  manufacturing  district.  The  business 
prospered  and  continued  till  1865,  when  the  three  part- 
ners were  induced  by  flattering  offers  from  third  parties 
to  amicably  dissolve  and  enter  new  relations.  The  fac- 
tory and  assets  were  converted  into  cash,  yielding  each 
member  of  the  firm  a  handsome  amount. 

Immediately  upon  the  dissolution  Mr.  Carroll  entered 
into  partnership  with  Michael  J.  Dohan,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  Alexander  Forman,  a  wealthy  merchant  of  the  First 
Ward  of  Brooklyn,  under  the  firm-name  of  Dohan,  Car- 
roll &  Co.  The  new  firm  was  notably  successful.  Its 
credit  at  an  early  date  was  marked  A.  1.  and  its  profits 
were  very  great.  It  continued  until  1880,  when  it  dis- 
solved, the  members  of  the  firm  retiring  from  active 
business  life  with  large  fortunes,  that  of  Mr.  Dohan  being 
estimated  at  several  millions.  On  the  first  of  Janu- 
ary this  year  Mr.  Carroll  took  the  position  of  Register  of 
Kings  County,  to  which  he  had  been  elected  the  previous 
November.  He  has  never  since  returned  to  mercantile 
fife. 

Even  before  reaching  his  majority,  he  took  a  deep  in- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


115 


terest  in  political  atfairs.  He  was  naturally  a  Democrat, 
instinctively  siding  with  the  masses  against  the  classes 
and  receiving  a  strong  bias  from  the  days  when  he  and 
his  were  the  special  aversion  of  the  proscriptive  and  un- 
American  Know-Nothing  party.  During  his  business 
career,  although  he  resolutely  refused  all  nominations 
whatever,  he  ever  took  an  active  part  in  local  affairs.  His 
time,  executive  ability  and  his  purse  were  always  at  the 
disposal  of  his  party  organization.  Within  its  ranks  he 
received  every  honor  that  a  man  can  achieve,  chairman 
and  secretary  time  and  time  again  of  clubs,  ward 
associations,  conventions,  general,  executive  and  cam- 
paign committees  and  delegate  to  Ward,  Assembly^ 
City,  County,  Senatorial,  Congressional,  State  and 
National  Conventions.  In  the  Sixties  and  Seventies 
when  extravagance  and  corruption  were  but  too  preva- 
lent in  Brooklyn,  numerous  opportunities  were  presented 
to  him  whereby  he  could  have  dishonestly  gained  large 
amounts  of  money  without  the  fear  of  any  consequence 
or  the  slightest  notoriety.  To  his  credit,  he  refused 
each  and  all,  and  never  in  that  period  received  one  cent 
from  the  city  treasury.  Of  the  men  who  were  promi- 
nent in  those  days,  and  especially  of  those  who  fattened 
upon  the  public  purse,  hardly  one  wields  the  slightest 
power  to-day  or  is  any  longer  an  influence  in  the  councils 
of  the  party  he  once  took  part  in  governing.  Carroll 
and  a  few  others,  whose  sole  course  was  honesty  and 
right,  are,  if  possible,  more  popular  and  influential  now 
than  they  were  at  that  time.  For  the  past  thirteen 
years  he  has  been  treasurer  of  the  Democratic  General 
Committee  of  Kings  County,  and  is  the  only  treasurer  of 
that  and  any  other  political  body  who  can  truthfully 


116 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


make  the  proud  boast  that  his  committee  owes  nothing 
and  is  not  and  never  was  insolvent  during  his  adminis- 
tration. In  1879  he  received  and  accepted  his  first  nom- 
ination for  the  office  of  Eegister  of  Kings  County.  At 
the  time  this  was  the  most  valuable  gift  in  the  hands  of 
the  party.  Despite  a  superbly- organized  Eepublican 
opposition  and  the  treachery  of  many  members  of  his 
own  political  faith,  he  was  elected  by  a  triumphant 
majority  and  filled  the  office  three  years.  During  the 
period  of  his  administration  he  increased  the  efficiency 
of  his  office  in  many  ways.  He  enlarged  his  clerical 
force  and  had  the  new  libers  ready  for  use  in  less  time 
than  ever  before  ;  he  caused  the  ancient  libers  and  in- 
dices to  be  carefully  examined  and  repaired  whenever 
found  necessary  ;  he  extended  the  patent  indices  and 
shortened  the  time  of  official  searching.  When  he  re- 
tired at  the  expiration  of  his  term  it  was  with  the  sin- 
cere regret  of  the  Brooklyn  bar  and  the  many  people 
whose  vocations  call  them  to  the  Register's  office.  In 
1884  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  National  Demo- 
cratic Convention,  and  was  one  of  the  famous  body- 
guard which  so  earnestly  and  successfully  combatted 
the  opposition  led  by  Tammany  Hall  to,  then,  Governor 
Cleveland  and  made  the  latter's  nomination  for  Presi- 
dent an  assured  fact.  In  this  long  and  eventful  political 
career  Mr.  Carroll's  fame  and  friendship  have  long  since 
crossed  the  boundaries  of  the  city  for  far  wider  horizons. 
In  the  long  list  of  men  in  whose  careers  he  has  been  a 
factor  and  whose  friendship  he  gained  may  be  mentioned 
Horatio  Seymour,  George  B.  McClellan,  Horace  Greeley, 
Samuel  J.  Tilden,  Winfield  S.  Hancock,  Grover  Cleve- 
land, Lucius  Eobinson,  John  McKeon,  John  Kelly, 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


117 


David  B.  Hill  and  a  score  more  of  almost  equal  national 
reputation. 

In  ISSG  Mr.  Carroll  was  appointed  Commissioner  of 
Police  to  succeed  Colonel  Partridge.  On  entering  the 
office  he  was,  like  all  men  who  have  patronage  at  their 
bestowal,  beset  with  applications  for  positions.  The  de- 
partment had  been  under  Eepublican  control  for  many 
years  and  also  seemed  an  adjunct  to  that  party.  The 
few  available  places  and  the  salaries  attached  were  mag- 
nified by  public  report  until  it  seemed  as  if  there  were  a 
thousand  positions  to  be  filled  and  millions  to  be  spent 
by  the  city  in  payment  for  official  services.  Under  such 
trying  circumstances  Mr.  Carroll's  course  was  wise  and 
just.  He  continued  the  good  features  of  the  administra- 
tion bequeathed  to  him  and  changed  the  bad,  and  in 
carrying  out  his  plans  appointed  a  set  of  subordinates  so 
well  known  for  ability,  efficiency  and  trustworthiness  as 
to  elicit  the  praise  of  friend  and  foe  alike.  In  person 
Mr.  Carroll  is  a  large,  vigorous  and  handsome  man, 
whose  youthful  appearance  belies  his  years.  He  is 
genial  and  generous  almost  to  a  fault.  His  ex-partner 
said  of  him  in  this  regard  :  "If  I  had  the  moneys  Tom 
Carroll  contributed  to  the  war,  the  sanitary  commission, 
and  the  countless  soldier  funds ;  that  he  has  given  and 
daily  gives  to  the  orphan  asylums  and  other  great  chari- 
ties of  the  two  cities,  and  that  he  has  squandered  upon 
men  whose  only  claim  upon  him  was  a  pretended  f  riend- 
shijj  or  a  sham  story  of  suffering,  I  would  be  a  mil- 
lionaire." 

His  courtesy  and  tact  are  proverbial.  He  has  the  rare 
power  of  so  using  a  few  happy  words  as  to  cool  rage  in 
an  individual,  to  stop  a  quarrel  between  irate -men  and 


118 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS. 


to  calm  an  angry  convention  with  equal  ease.  Unlike 
those  who  mount  to  public  favor  on  some  wave  of.  sud- 
den enthusiasm  and  who  are  forgotten  on  its  ebb,  his 
popularity  is  based  upon  the  recognition  of  all  the  quali- 
ties which  cause  men  to  be  esteemed  and  loved. 

Patrick  Campbell,  a  short,  thick- set  and  muscular 
man,  bright  eyed,  gray-haired  and  bearded,  enters  head- 
quarters every  morning.  He  exchanges  a  pleasant  word 
with  every  one  he  passes,  for  every  one  apparently 
knows  him,  and  quickly  disappears  into  a  handsome 
room,  on  whose  door  are  the  significant  words,  Super- 
intendent's Office.''  From  now  until  dark  the  chamber 
is  a  bee -hive.  Captains  and  patrolmen,  surgeons  and 
reporters,  distracted  mothers  who  have  lost  children,  and 
irate  wives  whose  husbands  have  temporarily  disap- 
peared, ministers  and  thieves,  ^'  cranks  "  and  crooks," 
make  up  the  motley  throng  that  consumes  his  time  and 
attention.  Telegraph  and  telephone  messages  hurry  in 
unending  ;  the  mail-carrier  brings  in  loads  of  letters 
from  everywhere  ;  the  police  departments  of  the  great 
cities  of  the  land  are  applying  for  his  assistance  and  ad- 
vice ;  subordinates  enter  to  report  and  receive  further 
orders  ;  clerks  present  voluminous  documents  for  his  ap- 
proval and  signature. 

When  night  comes  the  desk  is  clear,  the  room  empty, , 
and  all  the  day's  business — business  enough  for  the 
greatest  merchant — has  been  put  through  smoothly  and 
completely.  He  leaves  the  headquarters  for  new  scenes 
of  duty,  many  of  them  self-imposed.  If  you  are  a 
dramatic  critic,  you  will  see  him  at  the  Academy,  Col. 
Sinn's,  Miner's  or  the  Grand  Opera  House  as  you  make 
your  rounds.     If  a  religious  devotee,  you  may  rim 


■^1 


PATRICK  CAMPBELL, 
!>iii)erinten(lent  of  the  Brooklyn  Polk-e. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


121 


across  him  in  the  Cathohc  Cathedral,  some  Protestant 
church,  or  Jewish  synagogue.  Lecocq's  motto,  ''Never 
Sleeps,"  may  be  truthfully  applied  to  him. 

This  tireless  human  machine  is  Patrick  Campbell,  the 
distinguished  superintendent  of  the  Brooklyn  police. 
He  comes  from  a  family  that  has  made  itself  prominent 
by  ability  and  achievement.  His  father  was  a  leader  in 
Irish  politics  in  the  early  part  of  the  centtiry ;  his 
brother,  the  Hon.  Felix  Campbell,  is  a  Congressman 
from  this  city,  and  one  of  its  most  successful  and  influ- 
ential citizens. 

He  was  born  sixty  years  ago  on  January  12,  in  the 
City  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  but  at  an  early  age  his  parents 
removed  to  Brooklyn,  which  has  ever  since  been  his 
home,  and  with  the  wonderful  progress  of  which  he  has 
for  nearly  half  a  century  been  prominently  identified. 
After  receiving  a  common  school  education,  which  he 
supplemented  by  assiduous  study  in  the  night  schools, 
he  entered  at  an  early  age  that  practical  college  from 
which  so  many  great  men  have  graduated — the  printing 
office.  When  he  took  service  with  the  Brooklyn  Eagle 
it  was  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder.  But  he  kept  his  eye 
fixed  on  the  top,  and  climbed  for  nearly  twenty  years, 
until  he  became  superintendent  of  the  office  in  which  he 
began  at  the  case.  Political  life  early  had  charms  for 
him,  and  his  progress  in  the  party  with  which  he  was 
affiliated,  was  so  marked  indeed,  that  during  tlie  admin- 
istration of  Pierce,  he  was  rewarded  by  an  appointment 
as  inspector  of  customs.  He  continued  to  hold  that 
office  under  Buchanan  and  during  a  part  of  the  term  of 
President  Lincoln.  In  1S66  he  was  elected  by  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  Sheriff  of  Kings  County,  a  position  which 


122 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


he  filled  with  honor  to  himself,  and  satisfaction  to  the 
people. 

In  1870,  the  notorious  law  which  created  the  Metro- 
politan Police  was  repealed  and  a  charter  amendment 
passed  restoring  Home  Rule  to  Brooklyn  and  establish- 
ing a  Municipal  Police.  So  strong  and  wide  an  influence 
was  brought  to  bear  upon  the  authorities,  that  upon  or- 
ganizing upon  the  new  system,  Mr.  Campbell  was,  June 
1,  1870,  appointed  Chief  of  Police,  and  by  a  subsequent 
change  in  the  Charter  of  the  City  was  relieved  from  duty, 
Aiigust  2d,  1873,  the  office  of  Chief  of  Police  being  abol- 
ished. 

On  the  12th  of  August,  1875,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
position  which  he  now  holds,  that  of  Superintendent  of 
Police,  and  has  held  the  same  ever  since.  Despite  the 
various  changes  that  have  occurred  in  the  Commission 
he  has  remained  undisturbed. 

Upon  assuming  the  duties  of  superintendent,  Mr. 
Campbell  at  once  began  to  enforce  discipline  with  a  firm 
persistency  that  soon  put  an  end  to  any  weakness  from 
that  point,  and  he  impressed  upon  his  officers  the  abso- 
lute necessity  of  keeping  the  force  perfect  in  this  respect. 
Having  got  the  command  well  in  hand  the  Superintend- 
ent began  to  deal  with  the  various  problems  that  con- 
stantly arose.  Brooklyn,  before  his  administration,  was 
infested  by  numerous  gangs  of  thieves,  many  of  whom 
made  regular  raids  from  New  York  and  found  a  rich  bar-  - 
vest  in  going  through  unoccupied  houses.  To  counter- 
act this  source  of  annoyance  Superintendent  Campbell 
gave  public  notice  through  the  jjress  counselling  all  own- 
ers of  houses  which  were  temporarily  vacated  to  give 
notice  to  the  police  of  their  respective  districts.  Every 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  12'^ 

officer  and  the  precinct  detectives  vv^ere  thus  informed  of 
the  numerous  points  where  burglarious  attacks  might  be 
expected,  and  the  result  was  a  large  number  of  arrests 
of  thieves  who  had  theretofore  raided  unoccupied  dwell- 
ings with  comparative  security.  Tliis  plan  the  Superin- 
tendent has  kept  up  year  after  year,  and  now,  instead  of 
there  being  hundreds  of  such  houses  robbed,  as  in  former 
years,  the  annual  report  shows  that,  during  1SS5,  two 
thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy-three  vacant  houses 
were  reported  to  the  police  for  guard,  and  of  this  number 
only   re  were  entered. 

In  ten  years  over  twenty  thousand  houses  were  re- 
ported as  temporarily  vacant,  and  of  this  vast  number 
only  one-quarter  of  one  per  cent,  were  broken  into  by 
depradators  of  all  classes. 

In  1877,  in  his  report,  he  called  attention  to  the  careless 
manner  of  storekeepers  leaving  their  wares  on  the  side- 
walks exposed  to  theft,  and  to  the  insecurity  of  cellar 
gratings.  This,  in  connection  with  a  stricter  enforcement 
of  the  ordinance  against  incumbrances,  had  the  desired 
effect  of  lessening  the  number  of  sneak  robberies  "  from 
in  front  of  stores.  He  has  made  a  special  feature  of 
breaking  up  disorderly  places  and  houses  of  ill-fame. 
A  fcAv  of  these  sprung  up  from  time  to  time  in  unex- 
pected places,  while  the  majority  result  from  the  immi- 
gration of  loose  characters  from  Xew  York.  These,  see- 
ing and  knowing  the  immense  population  and  wealth  of 
Brooklyn,  regard  it  as  a  field  peculiarly  rich  for  their 
nefarious  calling.  They  i^ick  out  an  available  house  in 
what  they  regard  as  a  good  neighborhood  for  their  busi- 
ness, generally  Adams,  Washington  or  Atlantic  Street, 
Fulton  or  Carlton  Avenue,  and  throw  their  doors  wide 


124 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


open.  Infrequently  a  raid  is  the  immediate  reply  of  the 
vigilant  Captain.  More  often  the  Captain  or  Superin- 
tendent details  a  man  to  stand  in  front  of  the  house  and 
notify  all  who  enter  and  depart  of  its  character  and  of 
the  probability  of  a  police  raid  that  day.  The  women 
who  frequent  such  places  are,  in  the  main,  not  degraded, 
and  have  some  social  position  to  lose ;  the  men  are  re- 
spectable, and  dread  notoriety  and  arrest.  Such  a  warn- 
ing deters  them  from  going  in  if  about  to  enter,  and 
from  returning  if  when  departing.  In  either  case  the 
.  infamous  traffic  is  ruined,  and  the  proprietor  or  proprie- 
tress, "  a  sadder  and  a  wiser  man,"  soon  shakes  the  dust 
of  Brooklyn  off  their  feet. 

The  detective  squad  of  the  City  of  Brooklyn,  a  depart- 
ment which  is  now  admitted  to  be  the  equal  of  any  in 
the  country,  and  which  can  show  a  record  of  work  ac- 
complished which  would  be  a  credit  to  any  force  in  the 
world,  is  under  the  immediate  personal  direction  of  the 
Superintendent,  and  its  efficiency  and  ability  is  a  subject 
to  which  he  has  always  given  the  closest  attention.  Dur- 
ing his  term  of  service,  Brooklyn  has  been  the  scene  of 
some  very  remarkable  crimes,  and  the  manner  in  which 
they  were  unearthed,  the  skill  with  which  the  details 
were  uncovered,  and  the  success  which  attended  the 
efforts  to  bring  the  criminals  to  justice,  have  all  com- 
bined to  give  the  department  a  national  reputation,  and 
to  make  the  name  of  Superintendent  Campbell  famous 
as  one  of  the  most  skilful  criminal  officers  of  the  age. 
His  management  in  one  celebrated  criminal  case  was 
remarkable,  that  of  the  murder  of  Sara  Alexander  by 
her  cousin,  Pesach  N.  Rubenstein,  on  December  12, 18 To. 
The  body  of  the  nuirdered  girl  was  found  in  a  cornfield. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  125 

and  after  a  time  identified.  It  was  known  that  she  was 
shy  of  male  society,  one  of  her  friends  being  Eabbi 
Kubenstein.  Eubenstein  was  arrested  on  suspicion,  and 
taken  before  the  Chief.  He  was  about  to  be  locked  up, 
when  suddenly  Superintendent  Campbell  said:  ''Take 
off  your  shoes."  They  Avere  examined  and  found  to  con- 
tain mud  and  corn-stalks  on  the  soles,  and  on  examina- 
tion further,  one  of  the  shoes  was  found  to  fit  exactly 
an  imprint  near  the  scene  of  the  crime.  Eubenstein  was 
convicted  and  sentenced  to  be  hung,  but  died  a  few  days 
before  the  time  of  his  execution,  having  deliberately 
starved  himself  to  death. 

Another  notable  case  was  that  of  the  murder  of  Wil- 
liam W.  Simmons,  on  January  27,  1870,  by  Andreas 
Fuchs,  a  case  in  which  Superintendent  Campbell  sat  for 
eight  hours  at  the  telegraph  instrument  directing  the 
movements  of  his  force  until  the  arrest  of  the  murderer 
was  effected. 

The  arrest  of  John  H.  Wright  for  the  murder  of  Feron, 
the  junkman ;  of  Welsh,  the  murderer  of  Barbara 
Groventhal,  and  in  scores  of  other  cases,  all  evidence  the 
high  detective  skill  of  Superintendent  Campbell  in 
directing  the  movements  of  his  men. 

In  no  matter  was  his  detective  ability  and  intelligence 
put  to  more  successful  proof  than  in  the  Kate  Stoddart- 
Goodrich  mui'der,  a  case  wliich  at  the  time  excited  wide- 
spread interest,  both  hei'e  and  in  Europe,  and  in  which  he 
succeeded  in  effecting  the  identification  of  the  murderess 
after  it  seemed  a  hopeless  task.  Charles  Goodrich,  the 
murdered  man,  was  a  brother  of  Hon.  W.  W.  Goodrich, 
who  owned  a  row  of  handsome  brown-stone  front  houses 
in  a  fashionable  neighborhood  in  this  city.    The  brother, 


126 


BROOKLYN- S  GUARDIANS. 


Charles,  was  allowed  to  occupy  one  of  them,  alone  as  was 
supposed,  but,  as  it  turned  out,  a  woman  was  frequently 
seen  at  the  house.  She  afterwards  proved  to  be  a  Miss 
Lizzie  King,  alias  Kate  Stoddard. 

On  a  certain  morning  in  the  winter  of  1872,  Mr.  W.  W. 
Goodrich  called  to  see  his  brother,  and  finding  no  one  to 
reply  to  his  rappings,  gained  the  roof  of  an  adjoining 
house  and  entered  his  own.  Upon  the  basement  floor  he 
found  the  body  of  his  dead  brother  shot  through  the 
temple.  Susi^icion  was  directed  toward  Kate  Stoddard. 
A  search  throughout  the  United  States  Avas  made  for  the 
presumed  murderess.  A  former  acquaintance  of  Kate 
Stoddard  (a  Miss  Mary  Handley)  was  employed  by  the 
Superintendent  to  assist.  The  search  continued  till  the 
following  summer,  when  it  was  found  that  a  woman 
answering  Kate  Stoddard's  description  was  answering 
personals  through  a  branch  post-office  in  New  York  City. 
It  was  when  Mary  Handley  was  on  her  way  to  the  post- 
office  that  she  recognized  the  woman  Stoddard  about 
going  on  a  ferry-boat  to  New  York.  She  informed  an 
officer  at  the  ferry,  who  took  Kate  to  the  station-house. 
She  stoutly  denied  her  identity  to  every  person,  and  re- 
fused to  give  her  residence.  After  being  kept  in  the  sta- 
tion-house for  three  days,  and  still  refusing  to  give  the 
desired  information,  the  Superintendent  gathered  his 
detectives  about  him.  He  asked  them  what  was  to  be 
done  in  the  business.  They  replied  'Hhey  did  not  know." 
He  soon  hit  upon  a  successful  ruse.  He  sent  out  an " 
alarm  ordering  the  entire  force  on  duty,  with  instructions 
to  visit  every  house  in  the  city  and  enquire  if  any  female 
had  been  missing  for  several  days.  This  extreme  meas- 
ure, somewhat  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  police  work 


JOHN  CUNNINGHAM, 

Excise  Commissioner. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


1:>!) 


in  the  great  cities,  put  many  families  into  a  state  of 
alarm.  It  is  estimated  that  two  hundred  and  fifty  house- 
holds who  had  a.  wife,  daughter,  servant  or  friend  absent 
for  the  time  were  greatly  exercised.  But  the  result  was 
accomplished.  Kate  Stoddard's  hiding  place  was  found, 
and  the  evidence  of  her  guilt  obtained  in  the  pistol  with 
which  she  committed  the  murder,  and  the  picture  of  the 
murdered  man  and  other  proofs.  She  was  pronounced 
insane,  and  is  now  an  inmate  in  the  Asylum  for  Insane 
Criminals,  at  Utica,  in  this  State. 

Mr.  Campbell  is  a  model  official.  He  is  an  admirable 
master  of  all  the  numberless  details  of  his  important 
office.  Although  firm  and  determined,  he  is  just  and 
equitable,  and  no  man  on  the  force  ever  suffered  unde- 
servedly at  his  hands.  Advancing  years  have  caused  no 
lessening  of  the  keenness  of  intellect,  the  heartiness  of 
manner  or  the  possession  of  the  genial  qualities  which 
have  made  him  beloved  by  his  friends  and  respected  by 
all.  Eich  and  poor  alike  have  access  to  his  presence,  and 
there  is  no  citizen  of  Brooklyn  who  does  not  feel  a  per- 
sonal pride  in  the  popular  and  justly  esteemed  Superin- 
tendent. 

Excise  Commissioner  John  Cunningham  was  born  in 
Ireland  forty -eight  years  ago.  He  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  1850,  and  engaged  in  the  carpenter's  trade  in 
New  York  City.  He  remained  there  until  1859  when  he 
came  to  this  city  and  connected  himself  with  the  new 
horse  railroad  on  Atlantic  Avenue.  He  was  one  of  a 
body  of  forty  men  that  left  the  Navy  Yard  in  18()2,  to 
form  a  repair  station  for  the  blockaders  in  Key  West. 
After  remaining  eight  or  nine  months  at  Key  West,  Mr. 
Cunningham  returned  to  Brooklyn,  and  again  became 


130 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


interested  in  the  railroad  interests  of  the  city  and  by  his 
high  probity  and  executive  abihty  earned  the  nickname 
of  '^Honest  John  Cunningham."  In  July,  1863,  he 
helped  to  organize  the  Van  Brunt  Street  and  Erie 
Basin  Railroad,  and  was  made  its  Superintendent  and 
later  its  President,  which  office  he  holds  at  the  present 
time.  He  was  also  President  of  the  South  Brooklyn 
Central  Railroad  for  fifteen  years.  In  ISTO  Mayor  Powell 
appointed  him  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  in 
which  position  he  remained  until  1882,  when  Mayor  Low 
selected  Mr.  Joseph  C.  Hendrix  as  his  successor.  In  1873 
he- was  elected  a  Commissioner  of  Charities  and  served 
the  city  in  that  capacity  for  three  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  St.  Patrick's  Society,  the  Emerald  Association 
and  The  Roman  Catholic  Orphan  Asylum.  He  has 
achieved  the  same  success  in  his  present  office  as  in  his 
other  callings,  and  has  satisfied  the  authorities,  the  liquor 
dealers,  police  and  press,  four  horses  that  few  Excise 
Commissioners  were  ever  heretofore  able  to  ride.  In 
private  life  he  is  very  popular,  and  regarded  as  an  '^avail- 
able man"  by  all  organizations  in  the  City. 

Excise  Commissioner  John  Schliemann  is  thirty-eight 
years  of  age,  and  was  born  in  Oldenburgh,  Prussia. 
Leaving  his  parents,  he  came  to  this  country  alone  when 
but  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  started  mercantile  life  as 
a  clerk  in  the  grocery  business  upon  his  arrival  in  this 
country  but  found  it  hard  work.  In  1S()0  he  started  in 
the  business  for  himself,  at  the  corner  of  Grand  and 
Myrtle  Avenue.  Later,  he  removed  his  business  to  the 
store  at  533  Myrtle  Avenue,  corner  of  Steuben  Street, 
which  place  he  now  occupies.  Mr.  Schliemann  is  an  ac- 
tive member  of  the  Retail  Grocer's  Association,  and  also 


JOHN  SCHLIEMANN, 

Excise  Commissioner, 


Brooklyn's  guardtans.  133 

of  Zeradatha  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.  He  has  taken  little  or 
no  part  in  politics  or  public  affairs  and  was,  when  he  en- 
tered office,  a  new  and  unknown  man.  Since  his  install- 
ment, he  has  displayed  good  judgment,  sound  common 
sense  and  a  keen  appreciation  of  the  wants  of  the  city. 
On  the  one  hand,  he  has  granted  licenses  for  all  first-class 
saloons  and  hotels  that  were  demanded  by  the  changes 
in  population  and  the  growth  and  extension  of  the 
city  ;  on  the  other  hand,  he  has  resolutely  refused  any 
favor  to  establishments  that  were  disorderly  and  disre- 
putable in  character.  The  present  relations  of  the  Board 
of  Excise  and  the  public  are  amicable  and  pleasant,  far 
more  so  than  they  were  in  the  preceding  six  years. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


The  Chief  Subordinates  of  the  Department. 


Francis  L.  Dallon,  the  Deputy-Commissioner  of  Police. — Start 
iNG  Life  a  Lawyer. — His  Legal  Ability  Makes  HixM  a  Magistrate. 
— An  Ornament  to  the  Bench. — An  Important  Official  Career. 
— Inspector  John  Mackellar. — A  Man  Whose  Humor  Has  Made 
•  Him  Famous. — His  Life- Work. — From  Fighting  Rioters  When  a 
Youth,  to  Governing  a  Great  District  When  a  Matured  Man. — 
His  Views  on  Crooked  People. — Inspector  Edward  Reilly. — A 
Spi-endid  Soldier  in  the  Sixties.  —  Equally  Successful  as  a 
Guardian  of  the  Peace. — Inspector  McLaughlin. — A  Soldter 
Who  Sees  Service  in  the  Shenandoah  Under  Sheridan  and 
Returns  With  Laurels. — A  Natural  Detective. — Features 
of  Drilling. 

HRANCIS  L.  DALLON,  the  popular  and  efficient 
Deputy  Commissioner  of  Police  is  essentially  an  old 
Brooklynite.  Although  not  ''to  the  manor  born,"  yet  all 
his  business  life  and  official  career  have  been  passed  in  the 
City  of  Churches.  In  the  year  1850  he  commenced  the  study 
of  law  in  the  office  of  Crooke  &  Campbell,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  July  1855.  His  ability  and  popularity 
soon  gained  him  a  good  practice  and  a  widespread  reputa- 
tion for  probity  and  success.  In  the  spring  of  1857  he  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  county,  which  office  he 
held  during  two  successive  terms  and  resigned  in  18G6  to 
take  up  his  residence  in  Brooklyn.  As  a  magistrate  he 
proved  a  signal  success,  displaying  judicial  talent  of  a 
high  order,  broad  common  sense  and   knowledge  of 


FRANCIS  L.  DALLOX, 
Deputy  Commissioner  of  Police. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


137 


liuman  nature.  During  the  years  18(51  to  1863  he  held  a 
position  in  the  sheriff's  office  under  Honorable  Anthony 
F.  Campbell,  and  did  much  in  the  admirable  management 
of  that  office.  In  180i  and  18G5  he  was  under  Sheriff  John 
McXamee,  resigning  the  same  to  accept  the  position  of 
Deputy  United  States  Marshal  of  the  Eastern  District  of 
New  York,  just  then  established.  Upon  the  resignation 
of  the  then  l^larshal,  President  Johnson,  upon  the  gen- 
eral request  of  the  best  citizens  of  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
and  Queens  County,  at  once  appointed  Mr.  Dallon  to  the 
position,  which  he  held  until  the  expiration  of  the  term  in 
1871.  His  legal  and  judicial  knowledge  and  experience 
proved  invaluable,  and  secured  the  confidence  and  praise 
of  the  national  administration.  In  1879  he  was  invited 
by  Sheriff  Thomas  M.  Eiley  to  take  charge  of  the 
equity  department  of  the  office  and  accepted  the 
offer  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Brooklyn  bar 
and  subsequently  he  was  asked  to  assume  the  du- 
ties of  under  Sheriff  in  addition,  and  during  the 
remaindei-  of  Riley's  term  was  the  brains  of  the  depart- 
ment. Under  the  administration  of  Mayor  Seth  Low, 
Col.  John  W.  Partridge,  having  been  appointed  Commis- 
sioner of  Police  and  Excise,  at  once  secured  the  assist- 
ance of  Mr.  Dallon  in  administering  the  affairs  of  the 
department,  an  example  which  was  followed  by  the 
present  incumbent  Colonel  Thomas  Carroll.  The  New 
York  Kecord  commenting  upon  this  section  weU- 
expressed  public  opinion  in  Brooklyn  when  it  said, — 

Col.  Thomas  Carroll  on  taking  charge  as  Commissioner 
of  the  Police  Department  of  Brooklyn,  has  fully  met  the 
expectation  of  his  party  friends  and  the  citizens  gener- 
ally.    Thus  far  in  filling  the  appointments  in  his 


138 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Department  he  has  had  sole  regard  to  the  fitness  of  the 
appointee  and  the  faithful  enforcement  of  the  laws  and 
rules  governing  this  branch  of  the  city  government. 

' '  One  of  his  first  official  acts  was  to  name  Mr.  Francis  L. 
Dallon  as  Deputy  Commissioner  and  Chief  Clerk.  This 
is  a  re-appointment,  Mr.  Dallon  having  given  abundant 
proof  of  his  qualifications  for  the  place  and  his  prior  prac- 
tical experience  will  be  of  advantage  to  all  who  have  busi- 
ness with  the  office.  The  many  persons  included  in  the 
government  of  this  Department  and  the  varied  and  in- 
tricate questions  constantly  arising,  together  with  the 
vast  amount  of  clerical  work  required,  demand  on  the 
part  of  the  Deputy  Commissioner  executive  ability  of  a 
high  order  and  a  familiarity  with  its  duties  which  Mr. 
Dallon  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree. 

' '  Under  the  new  regime  the  Police  Department  and  all 
its  office  affairs  will  maintain  its  present  high  character 
and  as  improvements  may  be  suggested  by  current 
events  doubtless  they  will  be  adopted." 

Mr.  Dallon  is  now  in  his  fifty-fifth  year,  hale,  hearty 
and  active,  and  from  present  indications,  able  and  will- 
ing to  serve  his  friends  and  the  public  for  an  indefinite 
period.  In  business  and  official  work  he  is  notable  for  his 
methodical  habits,  indefatigable  industry,  and  courtesy 
to  subordinates  and  the  public  at  large.  Dignified, 
thoughtful  and  full  of  the  wisdom  gained  in  a  long  and 
busy  career  he  is  eminently  qualified  for  the  position  he 
holds. 

A  tall,  slender  and  thoughtful  man  of  suave  manners 
and  pleasant  demeanor,  is  the  first  person  the  visitor 
meets  who  enters  the  Inspector's  room.  It  is  John 
Mackellar,  one  of  the  famous  members  of  the  force.  A 


PATRICK  11.  Mclaughlin", 

Inspector. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  lil 

Vit  and  humorist  himself,  he  naturally  gravitates  toward 
people  of  the  same  type  and  so  has  been  for  years  a  hou 
compagnoi  of  the  bright  men  of  the  press.  Their  jokes 
upon  him  have  generally  been  grotesque  allusions  to  his 
slenderness,  describing  captures  by  his  sliding  into  a 
house  through  the  chimney-flue,  a  gas-pipe  or  a  broken 
pane  of  glass.  His  retorts  have  never  been  printed  by 
the  unfortunates  who  had  provoked  him.  On  one  occa- 
sion, he  is  said  to  have  sent  a  message  to  a  reportorial 
friend,  ''Run-over  accident  by  horse-car  No.  303  of 
Flatbush  Avenue  line  at  -iiSO  p.  m.  Body  in  station- 
house — driver  Thomas  MuUins,  escapes — inquest  at  9 
A.  M.  to-morrow.  "  The  reporter  confided  the  news  to  but 
one  friend,  but  inside  of  a  half -hour  a  dozen  irate  news- 
paper men  were  looking  at  the  body  of  a  dog  which  had 
been  run  over  and  which  lay  in  solemn  state  in  the 
station-house  yard. 

Inspector  Mackellar  was  born  in  New  York  City  on 
March  4th,  1842.  He  moved  in  1845  to  Brooklyn  which 
has  ever  since  been  his  home.  He  was  a  plucky  fireman 
in  the  old  days  of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department.  He 
entered  military  and  police  life  together  in  July  1863, 
when  he  joined  the  special  force  called  to  suppress  the 
great  draft-riots  in  New  York.  He  was  actively  engaged 
during  the  terrible  week  they  lasted  and  was  bruised 
and  injured  in  many  encounters  with  the  mob.  This 
over,  he  was  transferred  to  the  ''  Atlantic  Dock  Squad," 
a  body  of  first-class  men  organized  to  protect  the  vast 
and  valuable  store-houses  in  that  neighborhood  from 
Southern  incendiaries,  thieves  and  mobs.  In  June,  1864, 
he  had  made  so  good  a  record  as  to  be  appointed  patrol- 
man by  the  authorities.    He  began  duty  in  the  forty- 


U2 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


eighth,  now  the  eighth  Precinct  and  remained  six 
months,  when  he  was  promoted  to  acting  sergeant.  In 
June,  1872,  he  was  appointed  captain.  In  1878  he  was 
assigned  to  the  tenth  Precinct  where  he  remained  five 
years.  He  was  then  advanced  to  his  present  position  of 
inspector. 

In  private  hfe  Mackellar  is  quiet,  thoughtful  and 
retiring.  He  has  a  vast  fund  of  information  and  anec- 
dote and  can  be  extremely  entertaining.  In  official  life, 
he  is  business  to  the  core."  He  is  always  on  time  and 
leaves  nothing  unattended  to.  He  is  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  the  duties  of  the  police  and  the  numberless 
subjects  on  which  information  is  requisite  to  make  a 
thorough  officer. 

Inspector  Mackellar  knows  a  good  deal  about  crooked 
people,  and  this  is  the  way  he  talks  about  them  : 

^ '  When  you  feel  yourself  being  hustled,  look  out  for 
your  watch.  When  your  hat  gets  tipped  over  your  eyes, 
don't  stop  to  put  it  back  till  you  have  put  your  hand  to 
your  watch  pocket. "  He  ought  to  know  what  he  is  talk- 
ing about,  for  no  man  in  Brooklyn  has  seen  more  of  the 
tricks  of  the  pickpockets.  He  has  been  studying  them 
for  years,  and  knows  all  their  ins  and  outs.  Despite  the 
high  position  he  holds  in  the  force,  he  still  keeps  his  eyes 
open  for  the  rogues,  and  catching  shoplifters  in  and 
about  our  large  retail  stores.  It  is  right  by  the  door  of 
a  great  dry-goods  establishment  that  we  catch  a  good 
many  of  them.  These  shoplifters  work  where  they  can 
get  out  easily.  Often  they  work  in  pairs,  one  woman 
standing  by  the  door  while  the  other  goes  down  the  aisle ; 
she  comes  back  and  the  first  ojie  tries  her  hand  at  it. 
They  all  come  dressed  for  it.    That  woman's  circular,  for 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  143 

instance,  makes  a  handy  thing  for  hiding  hfted  goods. 
Generally  the  shoplifter  carries  a  bag  with  straps  going 
round  her  waist,  into  which  she  can  easily  drop  any- 
thing she  can  get  hold  of.  I  saw  a  woman  once  drop 
some  feathers  in  at  the  waist.  I  arrested  her.  But  when 
we  got  her  to  the  office  not  a  bag  did  she  have.  That 
woman  had  fixed  her  dress  so  that  the  whole  front  of  it, 
from  waist  to  bottom,  made  a  bag,  and  then  piled  in 
round  her  feet  were  the  feathers  and  lots  of  things.  One 
woman  played  it  on  us  nicely.  She  put  her  hands  behind 
her  waist,  while  we  were  taking  her  to  the  office,  untied 
the  straps,  and  dropped  the  bag,  and  what  could  we  do 
about  it  ?    She  was  a  i3rof  essional. " 

^'  Do  we  get  many  professionals  now  f 
Xot  so  many  as  we  used  to.  They  don't  like  to  come 
to  Brooklyn  any  more.  One  day  we  saw  a  woman  throw 
her  shaw^l  over  a  Avhole  roll  of  cloth,  as  she  leaned  over 
to  examine  a  piece,  and  then  she  walked  off  with  the 
whole  thing  under  her  arm.  Another  time  we  saw  a 
little  girl  by  that  pile  of  books  sliding  one  slowly  under 
her  shawl.  One  look  was  enough  to  stop  her.  A  muff 
is  a  handy  thing  for  shoj)lifters.  The  woman  puts  her 
muff  on  a  pile  of  handkerchiefs,  and  while  she  examines 
something  with  one  hand,  she  quietly  puUs  handker- 
chiefs into  the  muff  with  the  other.  We  have  found 
muffs  jam  full  of  handkerchiefs,  ribbons  and  such  things. 

These  wire  screens  you  see  here  on  the  edge  of  the 
counter  have  stopped  that  thing  a  good  deal.  '''Once 
one  of  my  men  saw  a  woman  take  an  umbrella.  Then 
she  walked  down  to  a  pawn  shop.  Coming  back  she 
took  another.  And  so  on  till  he  had  seen  her  take  more 
than  a  half  a  dozen.    Of  course  she  only  took  one  at  a 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


time,  for.  with  two  umbrellas  she  would  have  been  sus- 
pected. " 

'^Are  shoplifters  well-dressed?" 

"  Yes,  many  of  them  are.  Some  of  them  are  klepto- 
maniacs, taking  little  things  at  first,  and,  if  not  detected, 
keeping  it  up  till  they  have  a  regular  passion  for  it. 
Pickpockets  usually  dress  well,  and  many  of  them  look 
like  real  tony  fellows.  Often  we  catch  little  children 
just  learning  the  trade.  Last  week  we  caught  a  little 
girl  taking  a  pocketbook.  Three  had  been  stolen  within 
an  hour,  and  thefts  had  been  reported  for  several  days. 
She  said  there  was  no  one  with  her,  but  I  think  there 
was." 

' '  I  suppose  you  have  to  remember  a  great  many 
faces?" 

"No,  we  don't  have  to,  though  of  course  we  learn  the 
faces  of  a  great  many  professionals.  Most  of  the  people 
vre  catch  here  are  strangers  to  us.  You  see  if  we  know 
them  they  know  us,  and  get  out  of  our  sight  pretty 
quick.  Then  the  only  wa}^  to  catch  them  is  to  watch 
from  a  window  or  a  doorway.  Brooklyn  crooks,  you 
see,  work  other  cities,  and  the  crooks  of  other  cities  come 
here.  So  w^e  have  to  tell  them  by  their  actions  and 
looks.  A  pickpocket  will  give  himself  away  every  time. 
He  will  look  around  to  see  if  anybody  is  following  him, 
and  will  do  other  things  to  betray  himself. " 

"Pickpockets  seldom  take  the  watch,  chain  and  all. 
They  twist  the  watch  off  its  ring.  That's  what  we  call 
ringing  a  watch.  Then  they  leave  the  chain  dangling 
or  stick  the  end  back  in  the  pocket  so  that  the  man 
doesn't  know  his  watch  is  gone  till  he  happens  to  want 
to  know  what  time  it  is.    When  a  pickpocket  goes  into 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  1^5 

a  crowd  he  will  begin  tai)ping  gently  on  the  outside  of 
pockets  to  see  what  is  in  them.  If  he  finds  a  purse,  he 
^\ill  pull  it  out  so  skillfully  the  victim  hasn't  any  suspic- 
ion of  what  is  going  on.  The  women  are  very  clever  at 
opening  hand-bags  and  taking  the  contents." 

Inspector  Edward  Reilly  is  a  man  of  fine  appearance 
and  Herculean  figure.  He  was  born  in  New  York  City 
on  June  0th,  lS-t2.  He  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Brooklyn  when  a  child.  On  May  4th,  1861,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  G.  Ninth  New  York  Volunteers  (Haw- 
kin's  Zouaves)  for  two  years.  He  took  part  in  the 
battle  at  Big  Bethel,  and  subsequently  accompa- 
nied Butler's  expedition  to  Cape  Hatteras, — par- 
ticipating in  the  capture  of  Fort  Clarke  and  Fort 
Hatteras.  He  accompanied  Burnside's  expedition  to 
Eoanoke  Island  and  took  part  in  the  final  charge  and 
capture  of  the  masked  batteries. 

His  regiment  had  an  engagement  at  South  Mills,  where 
they  captured  the  town  and  took  several  prisoners,  and 
lost  in  kiUed  and  wounded  about  a  hundred  men.  They 
were  attached  to  the  Ninth  Army  Corps.  He  afterwards 
participated  in  the  Battles  of  South  Mountain  and  In- 
tietam.  At  the  latter  place,  he  fought  bravely  to  rash- 
ness and  was  wounded  in  the  thigh  and  afterwards  in 
the  knee.  He  was  confined  in  the  hospital  for  about  six 
weeks.  Previous  to  and  during  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, his  company  (G)  formed  Burnside's  body  guard, 
and  Mr.  Reilly  took  part  in  both  days'  fight.  His  regi- 
ment went  from  Fredericksburg  to  Suffolk  where  it 
was  mustered  out  of  service  and  Mr.  Reilly  returned 
home.  He  re-enlisted  in  the  same  regiment  after  its 
reorganization  and  was  commissioned  second  Lieutenant. 


146 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


He  took  part  in  the  suppression  of  the  New  York  riots, 
and  distinguished  himself  here  for  coolness  and  courage, 
and  soon  after  resigned.  On  June  9th,  1867,  he  was  ap- 
pointed patrolman  in  the  Brooklyn  Police  Department. 

He  was  promoted  to  Sergeant  on  June  11th,  1870,  and 
during  1871-2-3  was  acting  captain  of  the  third  Sub-Pre- 
cinct. This  was  afterwards  made  the  Eleventh  Precinct 
and  he  was  appointed  Captain  on  September  4th,  1875. 

As  Captain  he  made  a  splendid  record  for  himself. 
The  district  he  commanded  contained  many  thieves  and 
disorderly  characters.  It  was  also  the  home  of  stevedores 
and  boatmen.  Men  of  this  class  are  strong,  self-assert- 
ive and  addicted  to  drink.  When  intoxicated,  they 
frequently  quarrel  and  are  then  very  dangerous.  In  such 
cases  brute  force,  and  strength  joined  with  courage,  are 
the  only  things  by  which  they  can  be  controlled.  Here 
Inspector  Eeilly  proved  a  power  for  good,  where  small  or 
weak  men  would  have  been  of  no  value  whatever.  His 
tremendous  frame,  long  experience  and  fearlessness  made 
him  the  master  of  the  situation  whenever  he  came  upon 
a  fight,  however  large.  Eemarkable  stories  are  told  in 
this  regard.  On  one  occasion  he  ran  across  two  burly 
six-footers  fighting.  He  intervened  and  was  immediate- 
ly assaulted.  Nothing  daunted  he  thrashed  both  single- 
handed  and  brought  them  into  submission  and  the  station- 
house,  with  hardly  a  mark  to  make  witness  to  the  en- 
counter. 

Captain  Reilly  became  Inspector  Eeilly  July  7th,  1886. 
His  promotion  was  deserved  in  every  respect  and  gav-e 
universal  Satisfaction.  He  is  very  popular,  being  noted 
for  his  tact  and  courtesy.  In  all  events  of  great  interest 
or  excitement,  he  has  done  so  many  favors  to  press  and 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  Ul^ 

public  alike,  and  has  gone  so  far  out  of  his  way  to  be  of 
assistance  to  friends,  acquaintances  and  even  strangers 
as  to  gain  the  good- will  and  gratitude  of  thousands.  He 
possesses  a  vast  fund  of  interesting  information  upon 
crimes  and  criminals  and  upon  the  work  of  his  office. 

That  private  office  of  the  Inspector's  would  show 
some  strange  things,  if  all  the  scenes  that  have  been 
there  could  be  reflected  from  the  walls  again.  Of  course 
the  Inspector's  methods  are  his  own,  and  he  does  not  talk 
about  them.  A  leader  of  a  gang  was  held  here  for  mur- 
der, which  was  cruel  and  cold-blooded  ;  but  they  were 
close  -  mouthed.  To  prevent  them  from  making  any 
combine  that  would  interfere  with  the  work  of  getting 
evidence,  they  were  all  arrested  on  charges  that  were 
easily  enough  found,  and  locked  up  where  they  were 
safe  and  separate.  The  Inspector  got  the  web  woven 
about  the  murderer,  but  he  wanted  to  fix  it  beyond  all 
chance  of  failure  by  getting  a  confession.  It  is  not  an 
easy  thing  to  make  a  man  put  a  halter  round  his  own 
neck,  but  it  has  to  be  done. 

Inspector  Patrick  H.  McLaughlin  is  about  medium 
height,  powerfully  built,  and  dark-complexioned.  He  is- 
quiet,  modest  and  good-natured,  always  happy  to  assist  a 
friend  or  make  himself  remembered  by  a  chance  acquaint- 
ance by  some  good  deed  or  word.  He  was  made  Police 
Inspector  in  July,  IS 86,  since  which  time  the  entire  corps 
at  Police  Headquarters  have  become  very  much  attached 
to  him,  for  he  never  interferes  with  any  one  until  they 
call  themselves  to  notice  by  some  mistake  or  willful  neg- 
ligence of  their  daily  duty.  This  trait  places  the  men  on 
their  honor,  which  is,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  never 
damaged.    Forty-five  years  ago,  on  the  8th  of  August,  In- 


150 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


spector  McLaughlin  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  the  city 
of  Brooklyn.  As  a  boy  he  always  led  his  companions  in 
their  games  ;  and  while  at  school  he  was  bright,  learned 
his  lessons  quickly  and  always  permanently  retained  the 
knowledge  which  he  had  gained. 

After  leaving  school  he  learned  the  trade  of  iron  mould- 
ing, at  which  he  became  a  proficient  workman.  He  fol- 
lowed it  until  1861,  when  the  war  of  the  rebellion  broke 
out.  He  enlisted  in  the  lT3d  Eegiment  New  York  State 
Volunteers  as  a  private,  and  went  to  the  front.  He 
served  his  country  for  over  three  years,  during  which 
time  he  saw  more  than  his  share  of  active  service.  He 
was  with  General  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
with  General  Banks  in  the  Gulf,  and  saw  many  bloody 
battles  in  Louisiana.  He  was  at  Port  Hudson,  and  New 
Orleans  when  it  was  captured  by  the  Northern  forces. 
He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  for 
bravery  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  with  Sheridan,  and 
was  often  complimented  by  his  superior  officers.  After 
the  war  was  over  he  returned  to  Brooklyn,  and  January 
11th,  1866,  he  was  appointed  on  the  police  force 
and  assigned  as  a  patrolman  to  duty  in  the  Fifth  Pre- 
cinct. While  in  the  Fifth  Precinct  he  distinguished 
himself  by  many  important  arrests.  He  always  could, 
and  can  to  this  day,  detect  a  man  who  is  a  crook,  and 
not  a  few  of  his  captures  have  been  made  on  suspicion, 
which  often  terminated  in  the  conviction  of  some  crim- 
inal of  great  importance  who  was  wanted  for  daring 
burglaries  or  a  bloody  murder. 

He  was  made  roundsman  in  1669,  and  assigned  to  the 
Third  Sub -Precinct.  A  few  weeks  later  in  the  year  he 
was  made  sergeant,  and  in  July  he  became  captain  of  the 


JOHN  MACKELLAR, 
Inspector. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


153 


Eighth  Precinct.  Four  months  later  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Ninth  Precinct,  where  he  remained  and  con- 
tinued to  add  to  his  excellent  record  until  1886,  when  he 
was  appointed  Inspector. 

He  devotes  much  of  his  time  to  drilling  and  instruct- 
ing new-comers,  this  being  auxiliary  to  the  technical 
training  they  receive  elsewhere. 

At  an  appointed  time  in  the  week  the  officers  of  the 
^'awkward  squad"  assemble  in  the  instruction  room. 
Each  man  has  his  buttons  and  the  buckles  on  his  belt 
well  polished,  and  his  whole  uniform  in  excellent  order, 
although  the  assemblage  is  not  for  the  dress  parade.  It 
is  the  regular  meeting  for  instruction  in  the  duties  which 
devolve  upon  a  poHceman. 

The  object  of  the  instruction  is  to  prepare  the  offi- 
cers for  prompt  and  intelligent  action  under  any  cir- 
cumstances which  may  arise.  The  inexperienced  men 
are  instructed  how  to  guard  property  and  detect  crimi- 
nals, and  the  habits  and  methods  of  the  burglar  and 
sneak- thief  are  made  the  subject  of  lectures  by  the  supe- 
rior officers. 

Certain  evenings  are  set  apart  for  the  answering  of 
questions  propounded  by  the  pupils  with  the  desire  of 
getting  information.  The  new  men  puzzle  the  older 
heads  with  interrogatories  as  to  whether  they  have  a 
right  to  break  open  the  door  of  a  house  when  they  hear 
a  woman  scream,  or  how  much  noise  a  man  may  make 
on  the  street  late  at  night  in  order  to  justify  his  arrest. 
How  much  ^^sass"  must  a  policeman  take  from  a  pris- 
oner before  he  uses  his  club,  was  one  of  the  questions 
propounded  recently  by  a  patrolman.  Ambitious  new- 
comers frequently  make  remarkable  progress.    In  one 


154 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


case  a  young  man  in  the  class  was  found  to  have  learned 
Dr.  Stiles'  History  of  Brooklyn  by  heart. 

Many  of  the  raw  recruits  are  very  unsophisticated  and 
at  times  afford  considerable  amusement  to  the  Inspectors. 
McLaughlin  tells  in  this  regard  the  following  story  : 

^'I  was  breaking  in  a  new  member  of  the  force.  At 
roll  call  a  number  of  general  alarms  from  Police  Head- 
quarters were  read  out  to  the  men.  The  new  man  acted 
as  if  worried  about  something.  When  he  got  outside^ 
the  puzzled  look  had  not  yet  left  his  face  :  he  asked  a 
friend  who  had  acted  as  instructor: 

"  'Look  here,  Patrick,  what  am  I  to  do  ?  They 
read  out  so  many  of  those  alarms  that  I  could 
not  catch  them  all.  I  remember  the  description  of  that 
gray-headed  old  codger  that  is  wanted  for  bunco  steer- 
ing ;  and  the  kid  that's  missing  and  has  probably  gone 
West  to  shoot  Indians  with  a  rusty  revolver  and  a  capital 
of  a  nickel ;  and  the  young  tough  that's  wanted  for 
nearly  killing  his  mother  because  she  would  not  give  him 
money  to  buy  beer  with,  I  suppose  ;  but  what  was  that 
last  alarm  the  Sergeant  read  off  about  somebody  missing 
from  home  ? ' 

' '  'Aw'  yees  listened  ter  all  that,  did  yees  ? '  queried  his 
instructor.  'Well,  oi  didn't  an'  whin  you've  been  in 
ther  bizness  a  little  longer  you  won't  be  listhening  ter 
thim  alarums.  We  niver  pay  ther  least  attintion  ter 
him.'" 


CHAPTER  IX. 


The  Chief  Subordinates  of  the  Department. 

{Continued.) 


Frederick  L.  Jenkins,  Clerk  of  the  Superintendent.— A  Born 
Student,  Statistician  and  Scientist. — His  Life-work  Briefly 
Considered. — IIis  Contributions  to  Police  Literature  and 
General  Servicp:. — William  H.  Muldoon,  Property-Clerk. — A 
Famous  Journa'list,  Wit  and  Humorist. — A  Careful  Official. 
— His  Duties. — Thomas  Carroll,  Jr.,  Clerk  of  the  Com- 
missioner.— A  St.  Johns'  College  Man  who  is  doing  Well, — 
A  Hard  Worker. — William  D.  Lohman,  Cashier  of  Excise. — 
A  Typical  German.— The  Success  and  Popularity  of  a  Tam- 
many Graduate. — Almet  F.  Jenks. — Corporation  Counsel.— A 
Feav  Lines  Upon  a  Distinguished  Lawyer. 

EEEDERICK  L.  JENKINS,  the  distinguished  clerk 
of  the  Superintendent  of  Pohce,  was  born  in  the 
Tenth  Ward,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  on  July  8th,  1844. 
His  father,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers,  died  when  he  was  but  three  months 
old,  leaving  the  care  of  a  large  family  to  the  mother. 
Necessity  compelled  him  to  begin  the  battle  of  life  at  the 
early  age  of  ten,  with  but  a  trifling  amount  of  education. 
He  was  ambitious  of  intellectual  power,  even  at  that 
time,  and  devoted  his  evenings.  Sabbaths  and  holidays  to 
reading  and  study.  He  learned  the  type-founding  trade, 
and  from  that  passed  into  the  employ  of  the  Cromwell 
line  of  steamships.  The  war  drew  him  into  its  service, 
and  work  of  the  hardest.  During  its  four  years,  he  was 
either  supercargo  or  clerk  on  the  valuable  transports 
which  supplied  the  Union  troops  on  the  Southern  sea- 


156  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

board  with  the  necessaries  of  war  and  of  Hfe.  He  was  one 
of  the  officers  of  the  schooner  Sam  Colt,  the  first  vessel 
that  ascended  the  James  River  to  Richmond  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  remained  in  the  steamship  business 
until  December  5,  1870,  when  he  was  appointed  clerk  to 
the  Superintendent  by  the  then  incumbent,  Patrick 
Campbell,  a  position  he  has  ever  since  retained,  despite 
the  changes  in  the  administration  of  the  city  and  the 
personal  heads  of  the  police  department. 

The  steadiness  of  habits  acquired  in  early  youth,  and 
pursued  to  maturity,  became  second  nature,  and  mark 
Mr.  Jenkins  to-day  as  much  as  in  the  years  when  he  was 
a  poor  boy,  endeavoring  to  assist  a  widowed  mother  by 
the  hardest  work.  By  degrees,  he  ranged  alongside  of 
those  who  had  enjoyed  all  the  advantages  of  life,  and  then 
passed  them  by  in  the  race  of  intellectual  power.  In 
1874,  the  fruits  of  his  study  were  made  manifest  in  an 
able  monograph  on  Sociology  and  Herbert  Spencer,  that 
appeared  in  the  Eagle. 

The  ability  and  originality  of  the  article  attracted 
more  than  ephemeral  attention.  It  was  editorially  criti- 
cised in  the  journal  where  it  appeared,  was  quoted  by 
many  periodicals  of  high  standing,  and  disclosed  the 
author  in  a  new  light  to  his  friends,  and  especially  to  his 
fellow  officials.  From  that  time  till  to-day,  he  has  been 
an  indefatigable  literary  and  philosophical  writer,  and 
has  made  many  valuable  additions  to  statistics,  sociology, 
penology  and  kindred  sciences.  Among  his  many  con- 
tributions to  local  and  general  literature  may  be  men- 
tioned :  ''Sociology,"  Eagle,  Sept.  14,  1874;  ''Excise 
Statistics  and  Comparative  Tables,"  Eagle,  Aug.  13, 1877  ; 
"An  Introduction  to  Criminal  Statistics  in  the  Tenth  U.S. 


FREDERICK  L.  JENKINS. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


159 


Census  ;"  "  Statistics  of  Indigency  for  Kings  County,"  in 
the  same  ;  "  History  of  the  Census,"  New  York  Tribune, 
Nov.  28,  1870  ;  ''Pohce  and  Criminal  Statistics,"  Brook- 
lyn Magazine,  Dec,  1878  ;  ''Police  and  Criminal  Statis- 
tics," New  York  Sentinel,  Feby.  28,  1880,  and  March  6, 
1880;  ''Our  Moral  Status,"  Eagle,  Aug.  2,  1880  ;  "Ju- 
venile Crime,"  Eagle,  June  26,  and  July  3,  1881  ;  "  On  a 
Juvenile  Reformatory,"  Eagle,  Union  and  Times,  May 
11,  1882,  Herald,  Aug.  5,  1882  ;  statistics  in  article  in 
Princeton  Review,  January,  1883,  entitled  "Disfran- 
chisement for  Crime,"  by  Prof.  Colby;  annual  Police 
Reports  of  Department  for  past  fourteen  years. 

The  ability  and  originality  of  thought  in  these  articles, 
the  masterly  manner  of  handling  statistics,  the  admirable 
style  and  lucid  treatment  have  made  the  author  known 
and  respected  by  the  scientific  and  philanthropic  world. 

The  National  Conference  of  Charities  and  Correction 
in  1881  appointed  the  following  committee  on  Police 
System  and  Administration  :  F.  L.  Jenkins,  Chair- 
man, Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Greneral  Thomas  H.  Taylor, 
Louisville,  Ky. ;  Elmer  Washburn,  Chicago,  111.;  Hon. 
John  W.  Andrews,  Columbus,  Ohio  ;  Hon.  J.  K.  Barney, 
Providence,  R.  I. 

At  this  Conference,  as  Chairman,  he  contributed  a 
paper,  entitled  "The  Police  and  Juvenile  Crime,"  which 
was  favorably  commented  upon,  and  went  through  the 
press  with  favorable  consideration,  and  was  treated  to 
some  flattering  editorials. 

The  arrangements  made  by  him  of  the  blanks  used  in 
the  preparation  of  the  Annual  Report  have  simplified 
matters  to  a  remarkable  degree.    The  designation  of  the 


160 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


various  offences  under  the  proper  head  was  endorsed 
by  the  District  Attorney's  office. 

Mr.  Jenkins'  office  is  of  great  importance.  A  person, 
to  properly  make  himself  useful  to  the  public  in  this 
position,  should  be  at  all  times  ready  to  give,  on  the 
instant,  any  information  requested  concerning  the  duties 
performed  by  the  Police  ;  the  Ordinances  of  the  Cityand 
the  Laws  of  the  State  he  should  at  all  times  be  familiar 
with.  Much  time,  study  and  attention  to  business  are 
required.  He  may  not  always  receive  the  credit  due  him, 
but  is  somewhat  repaid  with  the  consciousness  of  duty 
well  performed. 

His  duties  are  to  keep  the  correspondence  of  the 
Superintendent's  office,  issue  all  orders  to  the  force, 
^    record  violations  and  forward  same  to  the  proper  depart- 
ments, issue  permits  for  processions  and  parades,  also 
permits  for  masquerades. 

His  duties  require  him  to  arrive  early  and  stay  longer 
than  any  other  clerk  employed  by  the  city.  He  is  not 
allowed  the  same  short  hours  afforded  other  clerks  during 
the  summer  season,  and  is  paid  a  small  salary  compared 
to  the  kind  and  amount  of  work  required  of  him. 

On  January  1st,  1885,  The  Brooklyn  Police  Mutual 
Aid  Association  was  organized,  and  he  was  appointed 
Treasurer,  and  has  since  been  re-elected. 

The  Association  started  with  621  members,  and  now 
(April  1,  1887,)  has  a  membership  of  782,  out  of  a  force  of 
902.    No  other  similar  police  association,   where  the" 
payment  is  voluntary,  can  present  so  large  a  percentage 
of  the  force. 

William  H.  Muldoon,  the  property  clerk,  has  a  national 
reputation  as  a  writer  and  all-around  journalist.  He 


WILLIA:\[  li.  .ML  i.ixxKN. 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANft.  lO:^) 

was  born  in  New  York  City,  June  24,  1848,  and  there 
resided  until  20  years  of  age.  He  received  a  good 
education,  and  at  an  early  age  evinced  a  strong  leaning 
toward  literary  pleasures.  He  began  his  journalistic 
career  at  the  lowest  step — the  printer's  case.  Here,  in 
the  employ  of  Major  Prall,  he  gained  so  thorough  a 
knowledge  of  the  art  of  Caxton,  that  when  twenty  years 
of  age  he  could  set  type,  ''  make  up  "  a  paper,  and  run  an 
8 -cylinder  press.  This  hard  training  was  invaluable  to 
him  in  after  years,  making  him  an  acquisition  of  the 
best  type  to  any  newspaper  where  emergencies  are  liable 
to  occur.  In  1867,  he  started  reporting  for  the  Brooklyn 
Union.  His  wit  and  satire,  humor  and  delightful 
descriptive  power  were  immediately  recognized  by  his 
employers,  who  promoted  him  step  by  step,  until  he  had 
filled  the  positions  of  Albany  correspondent,  assistant 
city  editor,  city  editor,  and  assistant  managing  editor. 
He  became  rapidly  known  to  the  press  as  a  forcible  and 
ready  writer,  an  able  editor,  and  a  first-class  correspond- 
ent. He  was  welcome  at  every  office,  and  always  found 
a  position  ready  for  him  wherever  he  applied.  In  this 
wise  he  has  filled  responsible  places  upon  the  Eagle,  and 
Sunday  Sun,  of  Brooklyn;  the  Tribune,  Star,  Morning 
Journal  and  Truth  of  New  York,  and  many  other  news- 
papers and  periodicals.  As  a  writer  he  excels  in  many 
respects.  In  humor  he  equals  Bob  Burdette,  Bill  Nye 
and  Max  Adler.  His  Coney  Island  Sketches  in  Truth  and 
the  Morning  Journal  were  so  whimsical  and  grotesque  as 
to  be  republished  in  hundreds  of  papers  the  world  over, 
and  to  elicit  laughter  in  England  and  Australia  as  well  as 
in  the  twin  cities  of  the  East  River.  His  burlesques  on  the 
poHticians  of  Brooklyn  were  the  best  features  of  the  Sun- 


164 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


day  Journal  and  N.  Y.  Staj%  and  gave  these  jonrnals 
a  large  part  of  their  circulation.  His  fund  of  wit  and 
humor  was  so  inexhaustible,  that  it  was  utilized  by  his 
friends  and  reappeared  in  many  odd  burlesques  by  for- 
merly famous  knights  of  the  pen.  His  descriptive  power 
is  excellent  per  se,  but  gains  a  strength  peculiar  to  Mul- 
doon  in  his  marvelous  power  of  epigram.  Beneath  his 
fun  there  are  always  sound  common  sense  and  a  good 
purpose.  In  all  his  works  he  has,  in  one  way  or 
another,  attacked  shams  and  wrongs,  and  done  much, 
as  reporter,  correspondent  and  editor,  to  destroy  politi  cal 
ills  and  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  city. 

He  first  held  office  under  Commissioners  Briggs,  Py- 
lum  and  Hurd,  when  he  was  property  clerk.  He  made 
so  praiseworthy  a  record  then,  that  when  the  depart- 
ment again  became  Democratic  in  1886,  he  was  immedi- 
ately chosen  to  fill  his  old  place. 

Thomas  Carroll,  Jr.  the  Clerk  of  the  Police  Department, 
is  a  son  of  the  Commissioner,  and  resembles  him  in  ap- 
pearance and  expression.  He  was  born  in  Staten  Island, 
N.  Y.,  July  13th,  1851.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Brooklyn,  in  which  city  he  has  resided  nearly 
all  his  life,  and  afterwards  entered  St.  John's  College, 
whence  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1873.  After 
graduation  he  entered  the  house  of  Dohan,  Carroll  &  Co., 
of  which  his  father  was  one  of  the  partners,  and  was 
employed  there  for  many  years.  As  a  student,  he  was 
assiduous,  faithful  and  capable,  standing  well  in  his 
class  and  graduating  with  honorable  distinction.  As  a 
clerk  in  mercantile  life,  he  displayed  the  same  character- 
istics and  earned  the  esteem  of  his  superiors.  He  was 
appointed  to  his  present  place  in  February,  1886,  and  has 


THOMAS  CARROLL.  Jr. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


167 


proved  himself  a  careful,  trustworthy  aud  efficient  of- 
ficial. In  the  keeping  of  the  Department  books,  the  ar- 
rangement of  official  documents,  the  classification  of 
papers  and  the  superintendence  of  the  large  epistolary 
work  of  the  office,  he  has  displayed  considerable  ability. 
His  office,  however  much  a  sinecure  it  may  have  been  to 
any  predecessor,  finds  in  him  an  active  and  ever  working 
occupant. 

The  face  of  WiUiam  D.  Lohmann,  the  Cashier  of  the 
Board  of  Excise,  is  very  familiar  to  the  citizens  of 
Brooklyn  and  New  York.  He  was  born  of  Grerman  pa- 
rentage, in  the  latter  city,  April  11th,  181:5,  and  received 
a  superior  education  in  both  English  and  Gi-erman.  Un- 
til 1886  he  never  held  any  political  office,  but  was  en- 
gaged in  different  business  concerns.  He  took  an  inter- 
est in  pohtical  matters  at  an  early  age,  and  on  account 
of  his  popularity  with  the  voters  of  both  the  nationahties 
named,  as  well  as  his  familiarity  with  the  two  tongues, 
soon  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  the  party  organiza- 
tion. He  thus  became  a  leading  member  of  Tammany 
HaU,  and  long  enjoyed  the  friendship  and  esteem  of  its 
sachems  and  warriors.  He  turned  his  face  southward 
in  1877,  and  left  Gotham  for  Brooklyn,  where  he  has 
ever  since  been  domiciled.  In  the  latter  city  he  was 
as  active  as  in  his  former  home,  and  in  a  short 
time  was  a  foremost  member  in  the  Saengerbund — 
Brooklyn's  largest  German  musical  and  social  organi- 
zation— as  well  as  a  valued  worker  in  the  Democratic 
ranks.  He  was  a  friend  of  ex- Comptroller  Ludwig 
Semler,  Anton  Weber,  John  Schliemann  and  other  rep- 
resentative Democrats.  Upon  the  appointment  of  Car- 
roll, Schliemann  and  Cunningham,  as  Commissioners  of 


168 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Excise  of  Brooklyn,  he  was  selected  to  fill  the  important 
post  of  Cashier.  The  responsibility  of  the  office  may  he 
estimated  from  the  fact  that  each  year  it  issues  over 
3,000  licenses  to  sell  ales,  wines  and  liquors,  and  receives 
in  fees  over  three  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Loh- 
mann  has  shown  himself  a  capable,  diligent  and  reliable 
custodian  of  the  public  funds. 

Corporation  Counsel  Almet  F.  Jenks  is  a  son  of  the 
late  Hon.  Granville  T.  Jenks,  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
forensic  orators  that  Brooklyn  ever  possessed.  He  is 
thirty-three  years  of  age,  and  for  a  long  time  served  in 
the  office  of  the  District  Attorney.  He  is  a  gentleman 
well  versed  in  law,  a  fluent  speaker  and  graceful  writer. 
During  three  years  he  was  one  of  the  most  indus- 
trious assistants  in  the  office  of  the  Prosecuting  Counsel. 
Mr.  Jenks  is  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  Class  of  1875, 
and  of  the  Columbia  Law  School,  Class  of  1877.  In 
social  circles  he  has  a  large  acquaintance,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  both  the  Brooklyn  and  Hamilton  Clubs.  Much  of 
the  credit  in  working  up  the  Groblewski  and  Herrick 
murder  cases  is  due  to  Mr.  Jenks,  who  gave  the  police  a 
great  deal  of  assistance  in  the  course  of  their  investiga- 
tions. He  is  a  son-in-law  of  Bishop  Littlejohn,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  never  identi- 
fied with  any  party  organization,  but  has  been,  and  is,  a 
typical  Independent.  In  his  present  capacity  he  is  the 
legal  adviser  of  the  city,  as  well  as  of  the  Police  Depart- 
ment, and  has  already  been  of  invaluable  service  to 
both.  His  legal  opinions  are  based  on  thorough  study 
and  research,  are  elegantly  and  intelligibly  expressed, 
and  thus  far  have  been  approved  by  the  Superior  Court 
in  every  case.  Excepting  the  Hon.  William  C.  Dewitt, 
he  has  had  no  equal  in  the  office  in  very  many  years. 


CHAPTER  X. 


Special  Features  of  the  Police  Department. 


THE  POLICE  TELEC4KAPn. 

When  Started. — Its  Eakly  Equipment. — George  II.  Flanley  and  His 
Work. — Where  Situated. — Early  Way  of  Working. — The  Staff 
IN  Those  Days.— The  Telephone.— The  Present  Force.— The 
1887  Statute.— Difficulties  Under  the  Civil  Service.~The 
"  Three  Trains." — Home  for  Reporters. 

the  patrol  wagon. 
AN^HEN  Started.— Its  First  Job  — IIo^v   it    Works.— The  Patrol- 
Wagoneers. — Paddy  Dowd  and  the  Bridge. — A  Drunken  Virago. 
—A  Heavy  Load. 

the  patrol  boxes. 
Begun  in  1886. — Gamewell  the  Inventor. — Description  of  Box. — 
How  IT  is  Worked. — The  Calls  and  Answers.— Telephone  vs. 
Pearson  and  Jones.— A  Watch  Upon  Watchmen.— The  Expansion 
OF  THE  System. 

THE  DEODANDS. 

The  Deodands. —  What  They  Are. — A  Curious  Word.  —  Groble- 
wsKi's  Poison. — Homicidal  Knives. — A  Bloody  Bed-slat. — A 
Deadly  Hammer. — A  Fatal  Cart-rung. — A  Historic  Axe. — Dark 
Lantern  and  Mask. — Pistols  and  Counterfeits. 

THE  bureau  of  BOILER  INSPECTION. 

When  Organized. — Its  Personnel. — Where  to  Get  Your  Boiler 
Mended. — Why  it  is  Necessary. — William  A.  Powers,  the  Super- 
intendent.— His  Heroic  Record. — The  Inspectors. — The  Super- 
intendent's Duties. — Boilers  at  Large. —  Engineers. — The 
Four  Degrees  in  Their  Freemasonry. — Misdemeanors. — Mr, 
Buck  Falls  Up  Against  the  Law  and  Gets  the  Worst  op  it. — 
The  Law  a  Beneficial  One. — The  Jewells'  Flour  Mills  Explo- 
sion.— The  Greenpoint  Foundry  Blown  up. — Public  School  BoiL' 
ERS. — As  Innocent  as  Kittens. 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS. 


THE  AMBULANCE  SERVICE. 

A  Modern  Idea  Started  in  1878. — Who  Controls  and  Has  Custody 
OF  THE  Wagons. — Who  Pays  for  the  Luxury. — The  Ambulance 
Surgeons  all  First-class  Men. — How  Appointed. — The  Horses. 
— How  the  Machine  Works. — Rules  and  Regulations. — Rela- 
tions with  the  Police.— How  They  Treat  the  Injured. — The 
Different  Districts. — The  Kinds  of  Patients. — Additions  to 
Come. — The  Good  Work  Accomplished. 

The  Police  Telegraph. 

OF  the  most  important  and  useful  adjuncts  to 
the  police  force  is  the  Telegraph  Bureau,  which  for 
years  has  been  rated  as  one  of  the  best  managed  and 
equipped  in  the  world.  When  it  was  first  established  in 
1854,  with  its  headquarters  in  the  basement  of  the  City 
Hall,  it  boasted  of  just  one  Eobinson  dial  instrument, 
■with  its  slow  method  of  transmitting  orders  and  messages 
from  one  station  to  another  by  electric  bells.  One  con- 
tinuous circuit  connected  the  ten  precincts  then  existing 
in  Brooklyn,  and  for  some  months  after  the  first  com- 
munication flashed  over  the  wire,  detectives  detailed 
from  the  several  precincts  and  headquarters  had  charge  of 
the  operating  under  George  H.  Flanley's  superintendence. 

The  present  Bureau  is  located  in  the  Municipal  Build- 
ing, with  Frank  C.  Mason  as  its  superintendent,  George 
H.  Flanley  having  resigned  three  years  ago,  after  thirty 
years  of  faithful  duty.  Mason  is  a  thorough  electricia]i, 
and  keeps  the  system  in  such  a  condition,  that  a  break 
lasting  more  than  five  minutes  is  almost  an  imj)ossibility. 
Two  bright,  well-furnished  rooms  constitute  the  suites  of 
offices,  while  all  about  the  walls  the  electric  parapher- 
naha  show  the  extent  of  the  work  done  by  the  force  of 
men  at  present  constituting  the  corps  of  operators. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


in 


For  a  number  of  years  after  the  bureau  was  estab- 
lished, the  facihties  for  the  transmission  of  messages 
were  extremely  small.  Now  and  then  when  a  new  pre- 
cinct or  sub-precinct  was  added  to  the  original  ten,  an- 
other dial  would  be  placed  in  position  at  headquarters. 
When  the  building  on  the  corner  of  Livingston  and  Court 
Streets  was  occupied  by  the  department,  the  force  of 
operators  w^as  increased.  The  complete  staff  was  then 
composed  of  William  Gear,  Thomas  Williams,  and  Will- 
iam J.  McKelvey,  all  well  up  in  police  duties,  besides 
being  experts  in  the  Code  Manual,  used  in  the  transmis- 
sion of  messages. 

In  those  days,  when  an  order  was  to  be  sent  to  a  pre- 
cinct, the  operator  would  call  it  up  by  so  many  taps  on 
the  dial,  which  would  be  responded  to  ;  and  then  fol- 
lowed the  long  method  of  so  many  bells,  meaning  some 
word  or  sentence.  If  it  was  a  general  order,  by  means  of 
manipulating  the  plugs  in  the  switch-board,  all  the  sta- 
tions were  communicated  with  at  once.  If  one  precinct 
desired  another,  it  was  obtained  by  joining  two  circuits 
together.  This  placed  eight  or  ten  precincts  on  the  same 
line,  and  kept  up  a  continual  clanging  of  a  gong  in  all 
the  station-houses,  enough  to  disturb  the  sergeant  on 
duty  and  the  prisoners  calmly  sleeping  in  the  cells  below. 
Even  in  the  present  day  the  old  dial  system  is  occasion- 
ally used  in  the  transmission  of  some  general  order  or  a 
fire  alarm. 

In  the  fall  of  18S3  the  telephone  found  its  way  into  the 
police  work.  It  consisted  of  a  line  between  Police  Head- 
quarters in  New  York  City  and  Brooklyn.  It  was  found 
to  w^ork  so  Avell  that  a  new  Avire  was  run  separate  from 
headquarters  to  each  precinct  in  the  city.    In  October  a 


172 


BROOKLYN'S  GU.UIDIANS. 


new  switch  board  was  placed  in  position,  and  another 
line,  making  three  in  all,  built  to  every  station.  It 
worked  admirably,  and  shortened  the  time  consumed  in 
giving  orders  from  nine  to  two  minutes,  which,  in  cases 
requiring  desj)atch,  has  often  resulted  in  the  capture  of 
some  important  criminal  or  shortened  the  worryment  of 
some  mother,  wife  or  sister,  whose  child,  husband  or 
brother,  having  fallen  sick,  or  into  the  hands  of  miscre- 
ants, were  kept  from  their  homes. 

Of  the  present  force,  naught  can  be  said  but  praise  of 
their  ability  and  efficiency  in  rendering  aid  to  the  police. 
Tlieir  work  not  only  extends  over  the  field  of  criminals 
and  crime,  but  accident  and  misfortune  is  treated  even 
with  more  despatch  than  the  usual  report.  The  staff 
now  includes  Frank  C.  Mason,  Superintendent  ;  William 
R.  Gear,  Thomas  Williams,  Thomas  J.  Cornell,  James 
Keenan,  James  Campbell;  John  Maloy,  operators  ;  and 
Augustine  Manee  and  William  McConnell,  linemen  ;  all 
of  whom,  excepting  Gear  and  Cornell,  served  appren- 
ticeships as  clerks  before  they  were  appointed  to  their 
present  positions.  The  duties  of  the  position  require  a 
complete  knowledge  of  the  entire  department.  To  be- 
come perfectly  proficient  the  operators  must  have  done 
precinct  duty.  Gear  was  in  the  Second  Precinct,  Wil- 
liams saw  service  in  the  Third,  Cornell  in  the  First  and 
Eleventh,  the  latter  of  which  he  was  at  one  time  Cap- 
tain. Keenan  spent  many  years  in  the  South  Brooklyn 
precincts,  Maloy  was  at  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth, 
while'  Campbell  acquired  his  extensive  knowledge  of 
police  matters  at  the  Twelfth.  The  linemen's  only 
duty  is  to  attend  to  breaks  in  the  wires.  The  building  of 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


178 


new  lines  and  the  care  of  the  batteries,  is  a  branch  done 
by  third  parties,  as  the  linemen  have  spent  almost  a  score 
of  years  in  their  present  positions,  and  have  a  complete 
knowledge  of  police  subjects  in  general. 

Until  the  second  of  May,  1887,  the  telegraph  deputies 
were  not  legally  connected  with  the  pohce  force,  but  on 
that  day  a  bill  was  signed  by  Governor  Hill,  which  not 
only  brings  them  within  the  protection  of  the  civil  ser- 
vice law,  but  entitles  them  to  be  retired  on  a  pension,  as 
are  the  regular  members  of  the  force.  An  examination 
for  a  position  as  operator  in  the  civil  service  routine,  is 
one  of  the  most  difficult  on  the  list.  No  one  but  an  experi- 
enced police  official  can  answer  the  first  questions  regard- 
ing the  routine  police  duties,  and  only  a  good  telegraph 
operator  has  a  knowledge  of  the  telephone,  telegraph 
and  switch-board  workings.  The  corps  of  operators  is 
divided  into  three  sections,  each  working  eight  hours. 
The  squad  on  duty  from  eight  in  the  morning  until  four 
in  the  afternoon  is  called  the  Day  Accommodation." 
The  next  section  is  on  duty  from  four  in  the  afternoon 
until  midnight,  and  is  known  as  the  ' '  Evening  Express. " 
The  ''Owl  Train"  whistles  off  brakes  "  at  midnight, 
and  connects  with  the  "  Day  Accommodation"  at  eight 
in  the  morning.  The  men  on  these  trains  are  never  em- 
ployed on  the  same  work  two  weeks  in  succession,  but 
change  about  from  the  switch-board  to  the  record  book, 
and  thence  to  the  daily  blotter,  in  which  is  kept  a  full 
detailed  account  of  everything  happening  in  the  existing 
twenty-four  hours. 

The  telegraph  bureau  is  the  resort  of  all  the  reporters, 
for  whose  benefit  httle  slips  containing  a  brief  statement 
of  every  event  are  hung  upon  easily  accessible  wires. 


174 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Large  numbers  of  citizens  daily  seek  information,  and 
receive  it,  as  far  as  is  known,  from  the  operators  on 
duty. 

The  Patrol  Wagon. 

In  November,  1886,  the  Police  Commissioners  put  the 
first  police  patrol  wagon  into  commission,  and  stabled  it 
in  Union  Alley,  near  Myrtle  Avenue.  The  system, 
though  new  to  Brooklyn,  had  been  tried  with  great  suc- 
cess in  both  Philadelphia  and  Chicago.  The  wagon  had 
not  been  in  commission  two  hours  before  it  received  a 
telephone  call  from  the  First  Precinct,  to  hurry  to  the 
corner  of  Gold  Street  and  Myrtle  Avenue.  The  distance, 
over  five  blocks,  was  covered  in  less  than  three  minutes. 
On  the  corner  lay  a  man  beastly  intoxicated.  The  sys- 
tem used  to  get  the  unconscious  man  into  the  wagon, 
was  applied  on  this  occasion.  In  the  first  place,  the 
officer  in  the  wagon  hooks  his  fingers  into  the  prisoner's 
collar  and  lifts  him  into  the  wagon,  where  he  is  laid  at 
full  length  on  the  floor.  This  manoeuvre  does  not  take 
more  than  a  minute,  and  before  the  tail-board  is  again 
placed  into  position,  the  wagon  starts  for  the  station- 
house,  while  the  clang,  clang  of  the  big  gong,  manipu- 
lated by  the  driver's  foot,  warns  the  pedestrians  and 
vehicles  ahead  to  move  out  of  the  way. 

The  entire  force  employed  on  the  patrol  wagon  are  :  . 
WiUiam  Dunham  and  J.  F.  Burnes,  and  George  Camp- 
bell and  Michael  J.  Ambro,  alternate  crews.  All  four 
were  appointed  from  the  regular  force.  They  like  the 
work  better  than  post  duty,  and  tell  some  very  interest- 
ing and  humorous  stories  relating  to  the  arrests  made 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


175 


since  the  wagon's  advent,  especially  during  the  first  two 
or  three  weeks  of  active  service. 

It  seems  that  one  night  in  December,  Paddy  "  Dowd, 
a  Fifth  Ward  politician,  got  into  a  row,  and  having  done 
too  much  homage  to  Bacchus,  fell  into  the  sheltering 
arms  of  a  First  Precinct  policeman.  The  patrol  wagon 
was  sent  to  bring  in  the  intoxicated  ''Paddy,''  who, 
thinking  it  a  new  feature  in  the  spree,  climbed  in  and^ 
asked  to  be  taken  to  the  Bridge.  When  he  arrived  at 
the  station-house,  he  refused  to  get  out,  saying  he  wanted 
to  go  to  the  Bridge,  and  offered  to  pay  his  fare.  I'm  a 
sucker,"  he  ejaculated,  as  he  fumbled  for  a  stray  nickle. 
Of  course,  force  was  used,  and  as  he  screamed  for  help, 
the  officers  dropped  him  over  the  tail-board. 

About  six  o'clock  another  morning,  Dunham  and 
Burnes  were  sitting  in  the  stable  trying  to  keep  awake, 
when  the  telephone  rang.  It  was  a  call  to  the  most  dis- 
tant box  in  the  precinct,  Hudson  Avenue  and  Nassau 
Street.  The  morning  was  bitter  cold,  and  the  snow 
creaked  beneath  the  wheels  of  the  wagon,  as  it  hurried 
along.  On  the  corner  in  question  was  found  a  woman, 
lying  full  length  in  the  snow,  drunk  and  almost  nude. 
She  refused  to  dress.  Nothing  could  persuade  her,  and 
she  howled  and  yelled  at  the  top  of  her  voice,  arousing 
the  entire  neighborhood.  Dunham  hurried  the  horse, 
and  in  about  nine  minutes  the  party  arrived  at  the  sta- 
tion-house. The  woman  was  carried  inside,  and  Burnes 
says  he  could  have  taken  the  whole  affair  as  a  good  joke 
and  thought  nothing  more  about  it  if  she  had  not  pers- 
pired to  such  an  extent  that  big  beads  of  the  fluid  stood 
out  upon  her  forehead  and  all  over  her  body. 

About  the  heaviest  load  the  wagon  carried  was  one 


176 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


morning  when  seven  officers  captured  eight  burglars  in 
a  Fifth  Ward  cellar.  The  entire  party  was  brought  to 
the  station-house  without  any  uncomfortable  crowding. 
''But  the  best  joke  of  all,"  says  Driver  Dunham,  "is 
when  we  capture  four  or  five  drunks  on  one  trip.  It  just 
makes  me  think  of  a  can  of  worms  when  you  go  fishing, 
to  see  them  all  on  the  floor  of  the  wagon,  squirming 
about  to  get  in  a  comfortable  position." 

The  Patrol  Boxes. 

For  years  the  Police  Authorities  of  Brooklyn  have  fully 
recognized  the  importance  of  providing  some  means  of 
instant  communication  between  the  station  houses  and 
officers  on  post. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1886,  the  work  of 
constructing  patrol  boxes  in  the  First  Precinct  was  com- 
menced and  when  the  first  day  of  August  arrived,  six- 
teen were  put  in  working  order.  The  system  in  use  is 
the  Game  well,  the  same  as  is  employed  in  Chicago.  It 
consists  of  a  circular  iron  box  about  three  feet  in  di- 
ameter, and  seven  feet  high,  painted  green.  Inside  this 
box  can  be  found  a  telephone  and  a  dial  box,  similar  to 
the  ones  in  use  by  the  American  District  Telegraph  Com- 
pany only  on  a  much  larger  scale  and  with  a  bell  on  top. 
This  is  used  to  inform  the  officer  on  post  that  his  signal 
has  been  heard  by  the  roundsman  in  the  station  house. 
At  the  latter  place  sits  a  roundsman  always  on  duty, 
cahnly  enjoying  the  warmth  of  a  glowing  stove  in  the 
winter,  or  a  cool,  refreshing  breeze  during  the  sultry 
summer  months.  The  dials  in  the  iron  boxes  are  faced 
with  block  rubber  on  which  is  printed  the  several  calls. 
A  lever  projects  from  the  right  of  the  dial,  which  on 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


177 


being  pressed  down  and  then  released  prints  on  a  tape  at 
the  station  house,  the  number  of  the  box  from  which  the 
call  is  sent.  This  informs  the  roundsman  that  the  officer 
has  made  an  arrest  and  wants  the  patrol  wagon.  The 
roundsman  then  presses  a  button  on  his  desk  which 
rings  the  bell  before  mentioned.  That  done,  he  tele- 
phones to  the  stable,  from  whence  the  wagon  goes  direct 
to  the  box  in  question.  In  case  the  officer  wishes  to  use 
the  telephone,  an  indicator  on  the  dial  is  pushed  one  point 
to  the  left  and  the  lever  pressed  as  before.  The  ticker 
then  registers  the  number  of  the  box,  with  one  dash  fol- 
lowing, Take  for  instance,  box  No.  27  at  the  corner  of 
Washington  and  Nassau  Streets.  If  the  policeman 
wishes  to  quell  a  riot  or  disturbance  of  any  magnitude, 
he  moves  the  indicator  another  point  to  the  left  and  the 
call  is  printed  27  .  The  next  point  is  for  an  am- 
bulance.   It  registers  27  .    Fire,  27  

and  a  test  call  27  .  If  any  further  inform- 
ation is  desired  or  wished  to  be  transmitted  to  the  station, 
the  telephone  is  used. 

The  patrol  boxes  can  only  be  used  by  the  officers  of  the 
Precinct  who  carry  the  keys.  If  a  citizen  discovers  a  fire 
or  any  other  disturbance  requiring  police  assistance,  he 
must  find  an  officer,  who  communicates  with  the  station 
house. 

A  question  as  to  whether  the  telephone  system  was 
better  than  the  one  devised  by  Messrs.  Pearson  & 
Jones,  at  present  used  in  New  York,  which  is  worked  on 
the  signaling  plan  exclusively,  received  considerable  notice 
at  the  time  the  boxes  were  in  course  of  construction  an  d  for 
some  weeks  after  they  were  put  in  use  ;  but  it  was  deci- 
ded that  although  the  New  York  system  transmitted  the 


178 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


messages  secretly,  it  was  slower.  Aside  from  this,  it  is 
less  explicit,  and  the  half  of  the  conversation  heard  by  an 
outsider  would  not  impart  enough  knowledge  to  interfere 
with  the  plans  ,of  the  police.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  patrolman  is  shut  up  in  the  box  through 
which  very  little  if  any  sound  can  be  heard  out- 
side. 

Each  patrolman  is  required  to  report  hourly  from  the 
box  on  his  post.  If  there  are  two,  he  must  send  in 
his  ^^0.  K."  first  from  one  and  then  the  other.  This 
breaks  up  the  old  way  of  an  officer  taking  a  quiet  doze  in 
some  convenient  stable  or  saloon  and  keeps  him  con- 
stantly, though  at  times  unwillingly  on  the  alert  for  law- 
breakers. He  is  given  ten  minutes  grace  in  making  his 
report.  If  it  is  exceeded,  an  account  must  be  rendered  to 
the  Sergeant  at  the  desk  when  the  officers'  rounds  are 
ended. 

The  telephone  system  is  a  necessary  prelude  to  the 
adoption  of  the  patrol  wagon  which  is  now  in  use  and  de- 
scribed elsewhere  ;  the  consummation  of  this  great  im- 
provement is  hailed  with  satisfaction  by  everybody  con- 
nected with  the  Police  Department.  It  has  already 
greatly  improved  the  efficiency  of  the  force  and  rendered 
the  way  of  the  transgressor  even  harder  than  it  is  pro- 
verbially supposed  to  be. 

The  system  will  be  extended  throughout  the  entire  city 
as  soon  as  the  proper  arrangements  can  be  made  for  the 
erection  of  the  wires  and  boxes.  Already  a  few  boxes 
have  been  placed  in  position  in  the  Fourth  Precinct, 
but  as  yet,  have  not  been  used,  as  no  patrol  wagons 
are  in  readiness  to  work  with  them.  The  rounds- 
men all  look  eagerly  forward  to  the  time  when  patrol 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  ITO 

duty  will  be  a  thing  of  the  past,  except  a  short  time  dur- 
ing the  afternoon  of  every  third  day. 

The  Deodands. 

In  the  ofhce  of  the  District  Attorney  is  kept  a  collec- 
tion of  miscellaneous  articles  taken  from  criminals  since 
1850.  The  group  is  known  as  the  deodands.  This 
word  is  a  curious  survival  of  the  middle  ages.  In  the 
days  when  ecclesiasticism  was  a  preponderating  power 
in  European  civilization,  the  churcii  made  a  claim  that 
everything  whereby  a  man  met  his  death  should  be  given 
to  God  (that  is,  itself).  This  was  acceded  to  by  the 
feudal  authorities,  the  crown  and  the  people.  The  name, 
giving  to  God  (Deo-dandus)  was  apphed  to  the  donor, 
and  thence  to  the  thing  given.  It  was  broadly  construed, 
and  included  the  buU,  ox  or  cow  that  gored,  the  horse 
that  kicked  or  bucked,  the  boar  or  sow  that  bit,  and  the 
weapon  that  inflicted  the  fatal  blow.  It  proving  a  fruit- 
ful source  of  revenue  to  the  lords-abbott,  the  custom  was 
extended  to  all  articles  with  which  crimes  were  com- 
mitted. With  the  decadence  of  the  church  and  the  sub- 
stitution of  the  king  for  the  pope  as  the  head  of  the 
ecclesiastical  organizatif  >n  by  Henry  VIII,  the  custom 
was  continued,  and  proved  very  remunerative  to  the 
crown.  It  became  a  part  of  the  common  law,  and  pre- 
vailed in  that  shape  in  this  country  until  the  revolution. 
The  people  then  took  the  place  of  the  king,  and  the  police 
and  District  Attorney  became  the  custodians  of  the  arti- 
cles forfeited.  To-day  it  is  confined  to  weapons,  burg- 
lar's tools,  illegal  goods,  and  many  objects  related  or  be- 
longing to  crimes  and  criminals. 


180 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


The  deodands  comprise  over  fifteen  hundred  burglar 
tools  and  instruments  of  destruction.  The  articles  are 
contained  in  a  handsome  cabinet,  and  are  interesting 
though  ghastly.  They  are  numbered  to  correspond  with 
the  pages  of  a  catalogue,  in  which  the  facts  of  the  crimes 
are  related.  Directly  in  the  centre  of  the  cabinet  are 
hung  fine  pieces  of  white  card-board,  on  which  are  strung 
thirty  queer-looking  glass  tubes.  These  tubes  are  discol- 
ored, as  though  burned,  but  the  black  spots  are  small 
particles  of  arsenic  found  by  means  of  these  tubes  in  the 
stomachs  of  the  two  wives  of  Groblewski,  who  is  now  in 
the  lunatic  asylum  for  his  insane  act.  To  the  right  of 
the  card-boards  are  two  photographs  of  Gonzales  and 
Pellicer,  who  on  the  night  of  November  23,  1865,  killed 
their  companion,  Don  Jose  Garcia  Otero,  in  City  Park, 
near  the  Navy  Yard,  and  robbed  him  of  nearly  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars.  The  murderers  were  afterwards 
captured,  and  on  October  12,  1866,  hung  in  Eaymond 
Street  Jail.  In  another  part  of  the  collection  are  a  group 
of  knives,  used  by  Andreas  Fuchs,  in  the  performance  of 
one  of  the  most  dastardly  crimes  ever  committed.  On 
the  twenty-eight  of  January,  1876,  some  children  playing 
among  the  piles  of  lumber  in  the  yard  of  Englis  &  Son, 
ship-builders,  found  between  one  of  the  piles  and  the 
fence,  a  bloody  human  head,  wrapped  in  the  fragments 
of  a  German  newspaper.  The  police  were  notified,  and 
an  investigation  was  immediately  begun.  The  head  was  " 
identified  as  belonging  to  William  Simmons,  an  axle 
maker,  who  had  worked  in  the  foundry  of  Messrs.  Jones 
&  Henry,  in  Greenpoint.  Inquiry  revealed  the  fact  that 
Simmons  had  a  friend  named  Andreas  Fuchs,  whom  he 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  visiting  at  92  North  Third  Street. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


ISl 


Mcp:roL 


BANK   BURGLARS'  OUTFIT. 


182 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS 


Fuchs  was  arrested,  and  the  detectives  went  to  his  apart- 
ment in  the  hope  of  discovering  some  evidence  of  his 
guilt.  The  result  of  the  search  was  most  revolting.  In 
various  portions  of  the  room  occupied  by  Fuchs  were 
found  pieces  of  human  flesh  and  dismembered  portions 
of  a  human  body.  A  trunk  was  also  found  filled  with 
the  ghastly  particles.  The  murderer  confessed  that  he 
had  killed  Simmons,  but  it  was  after  he  had  discovered 
that  the  latter  was  having  improper  relations  with  his 
wife.  On  the  eleventh  of  April,  Fuchs  was  found  guilty 
of  murder,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  His  sentence 
•was  afterwards  commuted  to  imprisonment  for  life. 
After  a  short  stay  in  prison  he  became  violently  insane, 
and  was  removed  to  the  State  Asylum.  A  blood-stained 
bed  slat  rests  in  one  corner  of  the  cabinet.  With  this  in- 
strument, James  Flaherty  killed  his  drunken  wife  in  the 
rear  of  96  North  Fifth  Street,  on  the  eighteenth  of  Sep- 
tember, 1882.  He  was  arrested,  found  guilty  of  murder 
in  the  second  degree,  and  sent  to  Sing  Sing  for  life. 
Number  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  is  an  innocent-look- 
ing hammer,  but  upon  investigation  it  turns  out  to  be 
the  instrument  used  by  John  M.  Wright  in  the  killing  of 
Bernard  Feron,  a  junkman.  For  this  crime  Wright  got 
a  life  sentence.  Immediately  below  hangs,  suspended 
by  a  cord,  an  object,  one  would  suppose  to  be  the  bone 
of  some  animal,  but  which  in  the  book  of  facts  is  said  to 
be  a  part  of  Feron's  skull.  Another  interesting  relic  is, 
the  cart-rung  used  by  Henry  Eogers,  a  member  of  the 
"  Battle  Eow  Gang,"  in  the  murder  of  Officer  John  Don- 
ohue,  on  the  seventh  of  July,  1872.  The  blow  must  have 
been  a  terrific  one,  as  the  weapon  is  split  in  four  places. 
Attached  to  the  rung  is  a  telegram  from  Governor  Hoff- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS 


183 


man  denying  a  respite  for  Rogers,  who  was  hung  on  De- 
cember 6,  1872. 

At  the  top  of  the  collection  is  a  knife,  the  sight  of 
which  is  enough  to  cause  an  observer  to  shiver.  The 
blade  is  about  thirteen  inches  long,  and  one  and  a  quarter 
wide.  With  it  Eschardt  Schneider,  an  Eastern  District 
butcher,  successfully  put  an  end  to  the  career  of  Jacob 
Jolger,  of  169  Throop  Avenue.  A  long-handled  axe, 
numbered  one  hundred  and  sixty  four,  was  used  by  John 
Oysterman  to  kill  his  wife,  Caroline,  and  a  knife  placed 
to  the  right  was  the  instrument  with  which  Oysterman 
endeavored  to  take  his  own  life  when  the  officers  came 
to  arrest  him.  He  was  sent  to  Sing  Sing  for  life.  Num- 
ber one  hundred  and  sixty-five  is  the  cap  and  club  w^orn 
by  Officer  Stone,  when  he  was  stoned  to  death  on  Atlan- 
tic Street,  near  Columbia,  in  the  latter  part  of  1879,  by  a 
number  of  roughs.  A  cut  in  the  top  of  the  hat  shows 
where  the  instrument  of  final  destruction  struck.  Daniel 
Burke  was  found  guilty  of  the  murder,  and  sent  to  the 
Penitentiary  for  seven  years.  The  gun  with  which 
Michael  Myners  shot  and  killed  Patrick  McDermott  on 
the  seventeenth  of  July,  1879,  at  31  Hudson  Street,  occu- 
pies a  prominent  place  in  the  collection.  An  old-fash- 
ioned daguerreotype,  number  one  hundred  and  sixteen, 
is  placed  away  dow^n  in  the  right  corner  of  the  cabinet, 
almost  as  to  be  unperceivable.  It  represents  the  features 
of  Ignatz  Ratsky,  the  murderer  of  Sigismund  Zillner, 
who  was  sent  to  Sing  Sing  for  life,  and  was  afterwards 
pardoned.  The  dark  lantern,  cap,  false  face  and  tools 
found  upon  the  person  of  John  Montgomery,  a  burglar, 
on  his  arrest  in  1868,  form  a  separate  group  in  the  upper 
left  hand  corner  of  the  collection.    Other  relics  of-  inter- 


184 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


est  are  the  pistol  used  by  Thomas  Armstrong  in  the  mur- 
der of  his  step-father,  WiUiam  A.  Herrick,  in  1885  ;  the 
knife  with  which  Mike  Kenney  killed  John  Eoamsburg  ; 
the  knife  that  Thomas  McKeon  used  to  kill  John  Con- 
nolly ;  the  pocket  knife  that  caused  the  death  of  Mrs. 
John  Mills  at  the  hands  of  her  husband  ;  a  lamp  Patrick 
Kenney  threw  at  his  wife,  thereby  causing  her  death  ; 
the  razor  with  which  William  H.  Skidmore  cut  his  throat 
while  in  jail  awaiting  trial  for  the  murder  of  Jacob  Carr  ; 
the  pistol  Thomas  Yates  used  to  kill  Officer  Curran  in 
1864  ;  counterfeit  plates  of  notes  on  the  Westfield  Bank, 
taken  from  Jeremiah  Cowsdon,  a  clever  counterfeiter  at 
Verona  Place  ;  and  the  cowhide  Thomas  Burke  used  to 
whip  his  wife  to  death. 

Mr.  Joseph  Bagnarello,  interpreter  for  the  District  At- 
torney's office,  has  had  charge  of  the  deodands  for  four 
years.  He  is  a  walking  encyclopaedia  of  criminal  his- 
tory, and  is  a  valuable  help  to  visitors  athirst  for  knowl- 
edge. 

The  Bureau  of  Boiler  Inspection. 

With  the  organization  of  the  police  department,  pro- 
vision was  made  for  the  testing  and  inspection  of  boilers, 
the  examination  and  license  of  engineers  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  management  of  steam  engines,  and  the  pro- 
hibition of  unlicensed  engineers  from  employment  within 
the  city  limits.  From  its  inception  therefore,  the  Bureau 
of  Boiler  Inspection  has  been  a  portion  of  the  police  de- 
partment. It  consists  of  a  Superintendent,  clerk  and  five 
inspectors,  and  its  office  is  on  the  fourth  floor  of  the 
Municipal  Department  Building.    Besides  performing  the 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


185 


work  mentioned  in  respect  to  testing  and  examining  l)oil- 
ers  and  graduating  engineers,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  inspec- 
tors, as  well  of  the  pohce,  to  report  forthwith  any  boiler 
in  use  that  has  not  been  officially  approved,  and  any 
engineer,  at  work,  who  has  not  been  licensed. 

The  existence  of  the  Bureau  is  an  unpleasant  com- 
mentary upon  human  nature.  In  every  community  are 
careless  or  avaricious  men  who,  despite  the  knowledge  of 
the  risk  to  property  and  the  danger  to  life  and  limb  that 
surrounds  the  use  of  steam  as  a  motive  power,  are  ^\all- 
ing,  and  even  sometimes  eager,  to  use  worn-out  boilers 
and  employ  cheap,  ignorant  labor  in  their  management 
in  order  to  save  a  few  dollars  and  to  increase  the  net 
profits  of  business.  This  is  why  each  boiler  is  tested  at 
a  pressure  one-third  greater  than  what  it  is  allowed  to 
use  ;  why  all  failing  to  comply  with  the  test,  and  those 
that  have  grown  weak  with  use,  are  condemned  ;  and 
why  only  intelligent  and  experienced  men  are  allowed  to 
become  engineers. 

The  present  Superintendent  of  the  Bureau  is  William 
A.  Powers,  who  has  held  the  office  since  January,  1887, 
and  who  was  an  inspector  theretofore.  He  succeeded 
his  brother,  Thomas  F.  Powers,  who  held  the  position  for 
tw^enty-four  years,  and  who  can  boast  that  not  one  acci- 
dent occurred  during  his  term  of  office.  The  inspectors 
are  John  Dolan,  WiUiam  O'Donnell,  Eichard  Fox,  Jacob 
Eueger  and  Patrick  Colfy,  and  the  clerk  of  the  depart- 
ment is  Hugh  Eeed. 

The  present  Superintendent  is  a  man  of  great  exjDeri- 
ence  in  steam  engineering,  and  at  the  time  of  his  ap- 
pointment was  considered  to  be  one  of  the  best  experts 
in  the  comitry.    On  May  15th,  ls&2,  lie  became  .third 


186 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS 


engineer  on  the  United  States  man-of-war  Seminole, 
at  that  time  at  Norfolk,  Ya.,  in  charge  of  the  cap- 
tured city.  Two  months  later  the  vessel  returned 
to  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  for  repairs.  Powers  be- 
ing the  only  machinist  on  board,  was  assigned  to 
special  duty,  and"  took  full  charge.  He  was  pro- 
moted July  4th,  1864,  when  he  became  second  assist- 
ant engineer  of  the  United  States  steamship  Shawmut. 
He  was  afterwards  attached  to  the  United  States  steam- 
ship Winioski,  and  resigned  from  the  navy  at  the  close 
of  the  w^ar.  Since  then  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture and  sale  of  engines  in  Brooklyn,  thus  acquiring  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  business  portions  of  the  city, 
which,  in  his  present  position,  is  invaluable.  He  has 
also  invented  several  attachments  to  the  steam  boiler  and 
engine,  of  which  his  steam  piston  packing  is  probably 
the  best  known. 

The  duties  of  the  Superintendent  are  to  pass  upon  the 
work  of  the  inspectors,  and  advise  them  in  comphcated 
or  perplexing  cases.  He  examines  all  the  engineers  in 
the  city  once  a  year,  as  well  as  when  they  qualify  for 
their  license  at  the  start.  He  must  be  personally  conver- 
sant with  the  industries  of  the  city,  as  well  as  being 
resjponsible  for  the  capability  of  every  engineer  at  work 
in  connection  with  a  licensed  boiler.  Should  any  acci- 
dent happen,  he  alone  stands  the  blame,  as  the  Police 
Commissioners  know  nothing  of  his  men,  and  entrust  to 
him  the  exclusive  management  of  his  bureau. 

The  duty  of  the  inspectors  is  to  cover  an  allotted  terri- 
tory and  report  at  intervals  the  condition  of  every  boiler 
therein,  the  removal  of  old  and  the  introduction  of  new 
ones  and  the  employment  of  unlicensed  engineers. 


Brooklyn's  guardians 


187 


The  nui liber  of  boilers  in  the  City  of  Brooklyn  from 
year  to  year  will  average  about  three  thousand,  ranging 
from  three  or  four,  to  two  hundred  horse  power.  Haver- 
meyer  and  Elder,  the  sugar  refiners,  alone  have  eighty- 
two  constantly  in  use. 

The  engineers  in  the  city  number  about  twenty -five 
hundred  including  the  four  separate  grades  for  which  they 
are  licensed.  If,  in  the  examination  before  mentioned, 
an  engineer  shows  the  required  amount  of  extra  knowl- 
edge over  his  previous  test,  he  is  promoted  to  the  next 
higher  grade.  The  green  seal  is  the  lowest  grade,  and 
is  awarded  to  the  Fire  Department  engineers.  The  blue 
comes  next  in  order  and  is  required  by  the  men  who 
take  charge  of  stationary  engine  boilers.  The  red  seal 
goes  to  the  man  who  can  do  both  while  the  gold  seal  is 
only  obtained  by  the  engineer  who  is  fully  informed  on 
mechanics  of  all  kinds. 

To  use  a  boiler  for  which  the  hcense  has  been  refused 
or  revoked,  is  a  misdemeanor,  punishable  by  a  fine  or 
imprisonment,  or  both.  It  is  an  equal  breach  of  the  law^ 
if  an  unlicensed  engineer  is  employed  in  his  capacity  as 
such. 

Some  fifteen  years  ago,  Superintendent  Buck,  of  the 
Bay  State  Shoe  and  Leather  Company  in  charge  of  the 
work-shops  at  the  Kings  County  Penitentiary,  employed 
a  convict  named  Mills,  as  engineer,  who  had  been  sen- 
tenced to  that  institution  for  killing  his  wife.  He  had 
previously  been  employed  at  The  Brooklyn  Eagle,  but 
lost  his  license  when  contacted.  The  police  authorities 
were  made  aware  of  the  fact  of  his  being  employed  in 
the  boiler  room.  Superintendent  Buck  was  arrested  and 
sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  fifty  dollars.    Mills  was  placed 


188 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


at  work  in  another  department  and  a  free  man  with  a 
hcense  employed  to  do  the  work. 

Owing  to  the  extreme  severity  with  which  the  law 
regarding  the  licensing  of  both  boilers  and  engineers  is 
enforced,  the  number  of  explosions  have  been  few  and 
far  between  ;  and  as  before  stated,  only  happened  out  of 
the  boiler  inspectors  jurisdiction. 

The  terrific  explosion  which  took  place  at  Jewells 
Flour  Mills  at  Fulton  Ferry,  was  the  result  of  using  the 
boilers  after  they  had  been  condemned  by  the  inspectors. 

At  the  Green  point  Foundry,  an  explosion  was  caused 
by  a  new  boiler  not  being  properly  put  together.  The 
authorities  had  not  been  notified  of  its  existence,  and 
consequently  were  not  responsible  for  the  accident.  And 
so  it  is  with  every  case.  If  the  owners  of  boilers  would 
attend  to  their  legal  duty,  an  accident  would  be  almost 
an  impossibility. 

The  public  schools,  fitted  out  with  steam  boilers,  do 
not  come  under  the  care  of  city  inspectors,  but  are 
looked  after  by  the  Board  of  Education,  which  provides 
a  competent  janitor  to  attend  to  all  the  necessary  work 
and  inspection.  These  boilers  are  not  used  for  motive 
or  other  i30wer,  but  merely  to  supply  heat.  As  construc- 
ted to-day,  it  would  require  considerable  ingenuity  to 
explode  them,  their  avowed  object  being  a  mechanism 
which  can  be  safely  run  by  a  child. 

The  Ambulance  Service. 

The  Ambulance  service  is  comparatively  a  new  feature 
in  Brooklyn,  having  been  established  by  the  Board  of 
Health  in  1878.    It  is  under  the  joint  jurisdiction  of 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


189 


the  Board  of  Health  and  the  pohce,  hut  is  largely  con- 
trolled hv  the  hospitals  to  which  the  wagons  are  assigned. 

The  service  was  organized  with  two  ambulance  wagons 
stationed,  one  at  Long  Island  College  Hospital  on  Henry 
and  Pacific  Street  and  the  other  at  the  Eastern  District 
Hospital  at  No.  108  South  Third  Street.  On  January  1st, 
1882,  the  board  of  Trustees  of  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  corner 
of  St.  Mark's  and  Eochester  Avenues,  increased  the  num- 
ber of  wagons  to  three,  and  three  years  later  the  Homeo- 
pathic Hospital  on  Cumberland  Street,  near  Myrtle 
Avenue,  placed  a  fourth  at  the  disposal  of  the  city. 

The  first  two  wagons  are  supported  by  the  municipal- 
ity. The  driver's  wages,  the  expense  of  boarding  the  sur- 
geon at  the  hospital  and  every  other  outlay  except  the 
stabling  of  the  horse  are  lumped  in  a  round  sum  and  paid 
to  the  lowest  bidder  for  the  contract.  Besides  this,  the 
board  of  the  horse  and  the  rent  of  the  stable  is  paid  sep- 
arately to  the  hospital  at  w^hich  the  wagon  is  stationed. 

With  the  Homeopathic  and  St.  Mary's  Hospitals,  the 
system  is  different,  and  costs  the  city  less.  One  hun- 
dred dollars  a  month  is  paid  to  each  of  the  hospitals 
which  furnish  in  return  all  the  required  paraphernalia. 
The  Ambulance  surgeon  is  one  of  the  house  staff  of  the 
hospital  with  which  the  ambulance  is  connected.  They 
are  four  in  number  namely.  Dr.  William  H.  Sheppard, 
at  the  Long  Island  Hospital,  Dr.  P.  M.  Cook  at  the 
Homeopathic,  Dr.  J.  E.  Walsh  at  St.  Mary's  and  Dr.  J.  W. 
Atkinson  at  the  Eastern  District.  AU  are  men  of  great 
promise,  fine  attainments  and  sterling  worth.  Their  pro- 
fessional position  is  deemed  of  great  value  to  the  young 
medical  graduate,  who  has  to  pass  a  very  difficult  exam- 
ination before  the  Board  of  Health  and  the  hospital  staff 


190 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


before  he  can  be  appointed.  This  examination  is  an- 
nually attempted  by  a  number  of  young  M.  D's  ;  the  one 
obtaining  the  highest  percentage  being  appointed.  The 
surgeon  sleejis  and  eats  in  the  hospital  and  is  always 
ready  for  active  duty. 

The  ambulance  service  affords  relief  to  many  kinds  of 
sufferers.  Among  these  are  the  victims  of  highway 
men,  who  are  injured  enough  to  be  made  helpless.  In 
such  case,  any  citizen  who  is  kind  enough,  will  hasten 
to  the  nearest  telephone,  call  Police  Headquarters,  and 
inform  the  operator  there  where  the  wounded  man 
is  lying.  This  message  is  immediately  repeated  to  the 
hospital  in  the  district  where  the  accident  has  occurred. 
It  is  then  sent  to  the  stable.  The  horse,  as  well  trained 
as  those  in  the  Fire  Department,  is  hurriedly  placed  in 
position  and  the  Ambulance  starts  for  the  scene,  i3icking 
up  the  surgeon  at  the  hospital  on  the  way.  If  by 
two  cases  in  the  same  district  being  reported  at  the  same 
time,  the  ambulance  is  out,  the  one  in  the  nearest  outside 
district  is  called.  If  that  is  out,  the  next  nearest  is 
summoned,  and  so  on.  It  is  very  seldom  however,  that 
more  than  two  are  out  at  the  same  time  except  in  sum- 
mer. Then  the  hot  weather  increases  the  number  of 
cases  over  one  hundred  per  cent.  The  average  ambu- 
lance surgeon  likes  the  summer  season  best,  because  he 
is  anxious  to  increase  his  knowledge  obtained  at  college, 
and  as  the  term  of  office  only  lasts  one  year,  he  longs  to " 
see  his  number  of  cases  swell  as  high  as  possible. 

When  the  ambulance  arrives  at  the  scene  of  action, 
the  surgeon  after  performing  any  necessary  preliminary 
work  and  placing  his  patient  in  a  comfortable  position, 
telephones  or  sends  word  to  the  nearest  police  station  if 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  191 

an  officer  has  not  already  arrived.  If  the  latter  has 
arrived  he  ascertains  the  facts  concerning  the  accident, 
which  are  telephoned  to  Police  Headquarters.  The  sur- 
geon only  dehvers  his  charge  at  the  hospital  and  reports 
to  the  house  surgeon,  who  in  turn,  sends  word  to  the 
Police  Headquarters  that  the  ambulance  has  returned 
and  is  ready  for  another  call.  The  matter  is  then 
checked  off  at  Headquarters  as  being  complete.  In 
many  cases  the  patient  is  only  injured  slightly,  and  after 
having  his  wounds  properly  attended  to,  goes  home  on  a 
street  car.  If,  however,  the  wounded  person  so  desires, 
the  ambulance  will  convey  him  to  his  destination  ;  but 
the  great  majority  of  injured  people  who  have  a  home  or 
friends,  would  rather  keep  the  ambulance  as  far  away 
from  the  sight  of  their  family  and  intimates  as  is 
possible. 

The  ambulance  in  use  to-day  is  constructed  with  great 
care  from  the  finest  materials.  Though  hght  in  appear- 
ance, it  is  strong  enough  to  resist  a  collision  with  a 
powerful  truck  and  inflict  more  injury  than  it  receives. 
The  springs  of  the  wagon  are  very  large  and  yield  to 
the  slightest  jar.  Their  cost  amounts  to  over  seven  hun- 
dred dollars,  exclusive  of  the  equipments,  which  consist 
of  a  complete  set  of  surgical  instruments,  medicines, 
blankets,  splints,  a  stretcher  and  all  other  articles 
required  to  properly  care  for  a  male  or  female,  no  matter 
how  injured,  in  all  weathers. 

Of  the  four  districts,  the  Western  is  the  most  thickly 
populated,  and  gives  the  largest  number  of  cases  to  the 
hospitals.  During  July  and  August,  the  district  along 
the  water  front  from  Red  Hook  Point  to  the  Navy  .Yard, 
which  is  covered  by  the  Long  Island  Hospital,  averages 


192  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

five  cases  daily,  most  of  which  are  longshoremen,  over- 
come by  the  heat.  In  the  Eastern  District,  the  number 
of  female  patients  exceeds  that  of  the  males.  Its  total 
faUs  below  that  of  the  Western,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  a  greater  portion  of  the  former  precinct  is 
inhabited  by  the  lower  and  middle  classes,  which  are  more 
liable  to  require  the  aid  of  an  ambulance  than  the 
wealthy.  Now  and  then  the  ambulance  wiU  be  called  to 
attend  a  patient  who  dies  before  its  arrival.  In  a  case  of 
this  kind  the  surgeon  merely  views  the  body,  returns  to 
the  hospital  and  reports  the  death  to  the  coroner  and  the 
Pohce  Headquarters. 

St.  Catherine's  Hospital  in  the  Sixteenth  Ward,  is  now 
arranging  to  place  a  fifth  ambulance  in  commission. 
The  wagon  is  already  nearing  completion.  When  it  is 
finished  and  placed  in  service,  it  will  greatly  lighten  the 
duties  of  the  Eastern  District  Hospital  which  now  has  to 
run  from  its  station  on  South  Third  Street  to  Greenpoint, 
and  in  case  of  the  wagon  at  St.  Mary's  being  out,  far 
into  the  upper  Wards  of  the  Western  District,  a  distance 
of  almost  three  miles. 

The  ambulance-service  in  its  brief  history,  has  already 
saved  over  fifty  lives  and  afforded  invaluable  relief  in 
more  than  a  thousand  cases.  Estimating  the  value  of  a 
man's  life  at  the  figures  arbitrarily  set  by  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  New  York  (five  thousand  dollars),  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  service  has  paid  for  itself  more  than  three  times 
over.  With  the  extension  of  the  patrol-box  system,  it 
promises  to  become  one  of  the  most  sahent  features  of 
daily  life  in  the  City  of  Brooklyn. 


CHAPTER  XL 


Special  Features  of  the  Police  Department. 

{Continued.) 


THE   MOUNTED  SQUAD. 

When  and  by  Whom  EsTABuisirED.— The  Thoroughfares  it  Pro 
tects. — Its  Gallant  Commander  Sergeant  John  H.  Johnson. — 
His  Services.— The  Headquarters.— The  Stables.— The  Squad. 
— Its  Duties. — Inefficiency  of  Foot-Policemen  to  Stop  Fast 
Driving. — The  Mounted  Squad. — Their  Influence. — Runaways. 
— "Fighters." — Panic-Stricken  Horses — These  are  a  Minority. 
— Hunting  Robbers. — Wealthy  Residences. — Prospect  Heights. 
— Area-Thieves. — How  They  are  Chased. — Cross  Country  Work 
ON  the  Hill. — The  Horses. — Their  Intelligence. — Their  Tricks 
and  Knowledge. — The  Record  of  the  Years. 

THE  morgue. 

Where  the  Dead-House  is  Located. — Keeper  Patrick  Maguire. — 
A  Description  of  the  Place. — How  Bodies  are  Preserved. — 
Strange  Cases. — Maguire's  Story. — Trying  to  Obtain  a  For- 
tune BY  Falsely  Identifying  a  Corpse. 

the  sanitary  squad. 

When  Organized. — Its  Causes. — Its  Work. — Dirty  Italians. — Its 
Re-organization  and  Present  Status. — Small-Pox  Cases. — 
Disinfecting  Dives. — Mediterranean  Prejudices. — Its  Present 
Composition. 

the  central  office  squad. 

When  it  Started. — Its  Purpose. — Where  to  Find  It. — Sergeant 
M.  T.  HoiiBRooK. — His  Heroic  War-Record. — Eventful  Chan^'ges. 
— The  Officers. — Their  Duties. — ^Messenger  Boys. — Protect- 
ing Marines. — The  Salvation  Army, — Invalids  Wanted. — A 
Quiet  Life. — Court  Officers.— Mass-Meetings  No  Good. — 
Weddings  and  Balls  Popular. — Arrests  Made  by  Multitudes. 
—Judge  Walsh  Helps  to  Swell  the  List. 


194  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

THE  rogue's  gallery. 

Where  it  is  Kept. — What  it  Comprises.— The  Rogue's  Record. — 
Years  op  Crime  Illustrated. — The  Ohio  Assassins. — Historical 
Homicides. — Distinguished  Artists  in  f larceny. — Lizzie  Leonard 
THE  Hermaphrodite. — Artful  Mrs.  Peck-Pious  Wadsworth. — 
Repentant  Rogues. — Removal  op  Portraits. 

The  Mounted  Squad. 

The  police  army  which  protects  Brooklyn  from  the 
organized  hosts  of  wrong-doers  has  its  cavalry  as  well  as 
infantry.  This  is  the  mounted  squad.  It  was  estab- 
lished by  Commisioner  Jourdan  in  1875  and,  beginning 
active  service  April  3rd  of  that  year,  has  continued  its 
good  work  ever  since.  It  pa^trols  the  great  thorough- 
fares on  which  fashion  drives,  Bedford  Avenue,  Clinton 
and  Schermerhorn  Streets,  Sixth  and  Seventh  Avenues 
up  to  the  very  gates  of  Prospect  Park,  where  the  eques- 
trian, horse  and  vehicle  pass  from  the  municipal  to  the 
Park  jurisdiction.  The  mounted  squad  is  commandf^d 
by  Sergeant  John  H.  Johnson  who  has  held  the  position 
since  its  creation. 

Sergeant  Johnson,  though  popular  with  both  the  pub- 
lic and  the  police,  is  a  strict  disciplinarian.  His  men 
and  horses  are  always  in  splendid  appearance  and  con- 
dition, while  his  stable  and  yard  are  cleaner  and  neater 
than  thousands  of  homes  in  the  city  of  churches.  The 
commander  of  brave  men,  he  has  set  a  good  example  of 
bravery  to  them  in  his  own  conduct.  In  the  discharge " 
of  his  duties  he  has  been  repeatedly  hurt  and  bruised, 
and  on  one  occasion,  when  stopping  a  runaway  and 
saving  life  could  be  accomplished  at  the  risk  of  his  own, 
he  accepted  the  situation  and  succeeded,  but  at  the  ex- 


JOHN  H.  JOHNSON, 
Sergeant. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


197 


pense  of  a  terrible  fall  and  a  triple  fracture  of  the  bones 
of  the  leg. 

The  Squad  makes  its  headquarters  at  the  the  10th  pre- 
chict  station-house  on  the  corner  of  Sixth  Avenue  and 
Bergen  Street,  just  off  Flat  bush  Avenue,  Brooklyn's  fa- 
vorite road  to  the  Park,  Coney  Island  and  Sheepshead 
Bay.  The  stables  are  situated  next  door  on  Sixth  Aven- 
ue. They  are  fronted  by  a  \vell-paved  and  exquisitely 
clean  yard,  and  consist  of  a  handsome  two-story  brick 
building  trimmed  with  bromi  stone.  The  floor  is  flush 
"with  the  level  of  the  street,  so  that  the  horses  can  go 
and  come  without  any  step  or  incline  to  stumble  over. 
The  ground  floor  is  one  large  room  and  contains  a  small 
office  in  front  and  stalls  on  either  side.  A  wide  alley 
between  allows  free  movement  to  all  the  inmates. 
In  summer  it  is  cool,  well- ventilated  and  pleasant.  In 
winter  the  accommodations  are  inadequate,  there  being 
insufficient  space  for  the  men  and  horses.  This  will 
soon  be  remedied  by  an  extension  of  the  present  build- 
ing. 

The  squad  is  composed  of  ten  patrolmen  and  as  many 
horses.  They  make  two  rounds  a  day  and  none  at  night, 
the  driving  at  that  time  being  so  small  as  to  be  insignifi- 
cant. Their  chief  duties  are  to  prevent  rapid  driving 
and  racing  in  the  streets,  and  when  necessary  to  arrest 
the  offenders,  to  stop  runaways  and  to  assist  the  injured 
and  protect  property  when  collisions  or  accidents  occur. 
These  are  special  duties  beyond  the  regular  ones  which 
they  perform  in  common  with  the  rest  of  the  force. 
The  thoroughfares  mentioned  are  handsome,  breezy  streets 
on  which  the  temptation  to  race  and  run  is  very  strong 
for  both  man  and  beast.    Before  the  squad  was  estab- 


1H8  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIAXS. 

lished,  a  foot-policeman  can  do  but  little  to  stop  reck- 
less driving.  If  he  tried  to  run  a  culprit  down,  a  touch 
of  the  drivers'  whip  soon  sent  the  latter  out  of  his 
sight.  Butcher  boys',  young  bloods  and  sporting  men 
were  guilty  of  the  offense  so  often  that  pedestrianism  upon 
the  sti-eets  named  became  fraught  with  serious  danger, 
and  the  streets  in  warm  weather  were  changed  into  first- 
class  race-courses.  All  this  has  been  changed  by  ]mt- 
ting  the  policeman  on  a  horse,  which,  being  unencum- 
bered by  a  wagon,  can  easily  overtake  the  latter  and 
arrest  the  driver.  So  universally  recognized  is  the  fact, 
that  when  a  mounted  squadman  turns  in  his  saddle  and 
raises  his  hand  to  i  passing  vehicle,  both  horse  and  driv- 
er stop  as  if  instinctively.  Even  tipsy  drivers  who  like 
a  ' '  quiet  spurt "  rein  up  at  the  first  glance  of  the  guar- 
dian of  the  peace. 

Eunaways  are  a  much  more  serious  trouble.  Many 
panic-stricken  horses  if  approached  become  infuriated, 
and  will  attack  a  man  who  tries  to  interfere  with  them 
in  a  manner  more  like  a  wild  beast  than  a  domesticated 
animal.  Others  seem  to  have  their  fear  increased  and 
changed  into  a  frenzy  by  the  endeavor  of  anyone  to 
check  their  mad  course.  They*  will  plunge  fiercely 
against  a  post,  fence  or  wall,  and  madly  dash  themselves 
out  of  life  rather  than  submit  to  capture.  Such  horses 
are  temporarily  insane.  ^ 

Fortunately  the  majority  of  runaways  are  not  of  these 
classes.  A  few  minutes  hard  running  or  a  strong  hand  " 
on  the  rein  or  bridle,  or  a  man  threatening  them  destroys 
their  panic  and  brings  them  back  to  their  sober  senses. 
Yet  in  the  few  minutes  of  i)anic  is  as  much  danger  as 
with  the  utterly  reckless  minority. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


199 


Another  duty  equally  exciting  but  containing  little  or 
no  danger  is  the  pursuit  of  robbers  and  especially  sneak- 
thieves.  The  houses  along  the  driving  thoroughfares  or 
in  their  neighborhood,  are  usually  the  homes  of  well-to- 
do  people.  Especially  is  this  the  case  vdth  Prospect  Heights 
the  large  district  which  borders  the  Park.  The  sneak- 
thief  finds  such  vicinities  a  fine  harvest -field  and  is 
constantly  on  the  look-out  for  a  favorable  opportunity. 
The  mounted  officer  is  equally  on  the  alert  for  the  thief. 
It  often  happens  that  the  latter  has  just  succeeded  in 
pilfering  from  some  area  or  basement  when  the  alarm  is 
given  and  the  officer  notices  it  a  few  blocks  off.  The 
spur  and  whip  are  called  upon  and  in  a  second  the  law  is 
galloping  toward  the  poor  devil  of  a  violator.  If  it  be 
in  the  built-up  districts,  he  is  run  down  in  the  street  or 
on  the  sidewalk.  If  it  be  on  the  more  sparsely  settled 
hill,  the  thief,  by  some  odd  fatality  generally  takes  to 
the  open  lots,  hoping  that  the  horse  can  not  or  wiU  not 
follow.  Yain  hope  !  Steed  and  rider  accustomed  to  the 
work  dash  over  the  sidewalk,  down  or  up  the  hill,  and 
after  a  brief  cross-country  rush  come  up  ^vith  the  now 
breathless  and  nerveless  criminal. 

Some  fine  work  is  done  this  way.  Officers  Webb  and 
Watson  have  frequently  set  chase  to  a  thief  who  had  a 
thousand  feet  start  and  who  tried  to  escape  by  running 
across  the  rough  and  horrible  hollow  between  Sixth  and 
Seventh  Avenues  near  Garfield  Place.  In  every  instance 
they  ran  their  man  down  before  he  reached  the  sidewalk 
for  which  he  was  heading. 

A  mounted-squad  is  a  modern  centaur,  half- horse  and 
half-man.  The  horses  deserve  more  than  casual  notice. 
From  their  peculiar  mode  o^  life,  being  ^\ith  one  man  aU 


200  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

the  time, — a  man  who  washes  and  grooms  them,  who 
nurses  them  when  sick,  who  plays  with  them  in  leisure 
moments,  who  is  on  their  back  or  walking  at  their  head, 
they  develop  a  degree  of  intelligence  truly  remarkable. 
They  come  to  know  the  names  of  themselves  and  the 
other  horses,  their  owners  and  those  of  all  the  squad  ; 
they  learn  all  sorts  of  tricks  and  comical  ways  ;  they  will 
see  or  hear  a  runaway  as  soon  as  their  rider  and  some- 
times even  before  he  does  ;  they  appreciate  the  dangers 
and  duties  of  their  position  and  are  extremely  careful  as 
to  both  themselves  and  their  rider  in  approaching  and 
extremely  excited  when  pursuing  a  thief.  Sergeant 
•Johnson  speaking  of  them  said  :  If  my  horses  could 
only  talk,  they'd  make  much  better  policemen  than 
many  men  who  come  here  and  bore  us  with  their  ignor- 
aifce. " 

The  record  made  by  the  mounted  police  in  their  brief 
career  is  an  excellent  one.  Over  one  thousand  runaways 
stopped  and  four  thousand  arrests  made  are  large  figures 
which,  while  they  show  the  amount  of  work,  convey  no 
idea  of  the  faithfulness,  courage  and  intelligence  of 
Brooklyn's  mounted  policemen.  They  do  explain  how- 
ever, the  popularity  of  the  squad  and  the  admiring  awe 
with  which  they  are  contemplated  by  all  the  little  folks, 
whom  they  have  so  often  befriended  and  protected. 

The  Morgue. 

Located  on  Willoughby  Street  immediately  back  of 
Eaymond  Street  jail  is  the  morgue,  a  plain  two-story 
brick  building  i-esembling  a  second-rate  dwelling  more 
than  a  dead-house     The  morgue  is  a  county  institution, 


^  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  201 

receiving  bodies  from  the  four  county -towns,  Gravesend, 
New  Utrecht,  Flatlands  and  Flatbush  as  well  as  this  city, 
and  was  founded  in  1808.  Mr.  John  Leavey  was  ap- 
pointed the  first  keeper,  but  only  retained  the  position  a 
year,  being  succeeded  by  Mr.  Patrick  Maguire,  who  is  at 
the  present  time  in  charge  of  the  place.  The  lower  part 
of  the  building  is  divided  into  five  rooms,  the  first  of 
which  is  immediately  to  the  right  of  the  main  entrance 
and  is  utilized  by  Keeper  Maguire  as  a  reception  room. 
Two  large  doors  open  from  the  hallway  into  a  large  room 
divided  by  a  glass  partition  into  two  apartments.  This  is 
where  the  dead  are  placed  for  identification,  the  visitors 
being  able  to  view  the  body  through  the  glass  partition. 

From  this  apartment  a  door  leads  into  a  smaller  room, 
in  the  centre  of  which  is  a  large  marble  slab  tilted  slight- 
ly at  one  end.  The  doctors  in  this  place  hold  their  post- 
mortems. Back  of  this  is  the  washing  room,  used  by 
the  doctors  in  cleansing  themselves  after  their  work. 
The  surgical  instruments  are  kept  in  a  cabinet  in  one 
corner  of  the  room.  Last  but  not  least,  is  the  receiving 
apartment,  the  door  from  which  opens  into  a  court-yard, 
and  makes  a  passage  for  the  dead-house  wagon's  ghastly 
load.  The  corpse  upon  its  reception  is  placed  in  a  closet, 
the  floor  of  which  is  movable,  and  by  the  aid  of  machin- 
ery descends  with  its  load  to  a  vault  below,  where  once 
hidden  it  can  be  kept  for  months.  The  atmosphere  in 
this  underground  apartment  is  so  cold  that  in  the  warm- 
est days  of  Summer  one  who  enters  it  must  wear  a  heavy 
overcoat  to  feel  comfortable.  The  upper  portion  of  the 
building  is  divided  into  sleeping  rooms  for  those  em- 
ployed about  the  place. 

Many  strange  things  have  happened  at  the  morgue, 


202 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


and  the  bodies  of  some  noted  criminals  have  found  shel- 
ter beneath  its  roof.  "  Several  years  ago,  "  said  Keeper 
Maguire,  "the  bodies  of  Mosher  and  Douglass,  two 
thieves,  were  brought  in  here  riddled  with  buckshot. 
They  had  attempted  to  rob  the  house  of  William  Van 
Brunt,  a  brother  of  Judge  Van  Brunt  of  New  York,  at 
Bay  Ridge,  but  were  discovered  in  the  midst  of  their 
work  by  Mr.  Van  Brunt  who  shot  at  them.  Mosher  was 
killed  outright,  but  Douglass  did  not  die  for  several  min- 
utes after.  When  he  found  that  his  end  was  approach- 
ing he  started  to  divulge  the  whereabouts  of  Charlie 
Ross,  whom  his  ''pal"  had  helped  to  spirit  away.  He 
did  not  speak  a  dozen  words  on  the  subject  when  he  died, 
and  thus  passed  away  forever  the  last  chance  of  clearing 
up  one  of  the  most  mysterious  cases  of  disappearance 
that  ever  happened  in  this  city. 

Another  case  worthy  of  notice  was  one  in  which  a 
clique  of  persons  endeavored  to  obtain  a  fortune  by  iden- 
tifying a  dead  body  as  that  of  a  wealthy  relation,  who 
had  mysteriously  disappeared.  The  body  they  all  swore 
was  that  of  a  Mrs.  Naegle  who  had  lived  on  South  Port- 
land Avenue.  Keeper  Maguire,  who  is  naturally  shrewd, 
suspected  something  was  wrong,  and  made  a  search  for 
the  missing  Mrs.  Naegle.  He  found  her  and  brought  her 
to  the  morgue  leaving  her  in  a  room  upstairs,  until  the  prop- 
er moment  should  arrive  for  her  appearance  down  stairs. 
While  the  conspirators  were  in  the  midst  of  signing 
their  affidavits  in  the  case  the  keeper  gave  the  signal  - 
agreed  upon  by  Mrs.  Naegle  and  himself,  and  to  the  con- 
sternation of  the  rogues  the  missing  body  appeared  be- 
fore them.  Without  many  words  they  gathered  up 
their  hats  and  coats  and  left  the  building.    Mrs.  Naegle 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


203 


and  Keeper  Maguire  had  a  good  laugh  over  the  affair 
after  the  baffled  scoundrels  had  gone. 

The  Sanitary  Squad. 

Toward  1860,  the  city  received  large  accessions  of  ig- 
norant immigrants.  They  brought  with  them  that  sin- 
gular hatred  and  horror  of  doctors  which  still  obtains  in 
Spain  and  Italy.  At  times  they  proved  so  serious  an 
obstacle  to  the  Board  of  Health,  that  the  latter  called 
upon  the  Metropolitan  Board  of  Police,  to  detail  a  squad 
of  men  to  preserve  order  and  assist  the  officials  of  the 
former  in  their  work  of  preventing  and  remedying  dis- 
ease. The  squad  was  in  such  constant  use  that  it  became 
known  as  the  Sanitary  Squad  and  finally  was  detached 
and  put  under  the  sole  control  of  the  Health  authorities. 
At  one  time  it  consisted  of  eight  men  and  was  then  fre- 
quently over- worked  in  the  discharge  of  its  duties.  Edu- 
cation, association,  the  appeals  of  press  and  pulpit,  and 
the  non  -  concurrence  of  neighbors  rapidly  worked  a 
change  in  the  opinions  of  these  new-comers  and  to  a 
large  extent  eradicated  the  prejudice  described.  The 
work  grew  smaller  and  the  squad  was  reduced  accord- 
ingly in  size.  With  the  re-organization  of  the  police-de- 
partment, the  squad  was  deprived  of  self-government 
and  put  under  the  joint  control  of  the  Central  Office  and 
the  Board  of  Health.  The  routine  work  dona  to-day  by 
the  Sanitary  Squad  is  so  insignificant  that  Sergeant  Hol- 
brook  frequently  details  its  members  to  duties  belonging 
to  the  Central  Office.  There  are  times,  however,  when 
their  best  efforts  are  needed  in  aiding  the  physicians. 
There  are  many  uneducated  and  prejudiced  foreigners 


20-1: 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


who  are  opposed  to  vaccination.  When  a  case  of  small- 
pox breaks  out  and  the  Board-physicians  are  sent  down 
to  inoculate  inmates  of  the  same  building  as  the  sufferer, 
they  would  meet  with  violence  at  the  hands  of  such  peo- 
ple, were  it  not  for  the  police -escort.  Italians  and  other 
people  of  the  South  of  Europe,  share  the  belief  that  one 
of  the  chief  objects  of  all  physicians  is  to  obtain  bodies 
for  dissection  and  that  when  the  natural  supply  runs 
short  of  the  demand,  the  profession  increase  it  to  ade- 
quate limits  by  drugs  or  the  knife.  Under  such  a  belief 
their  reception  of  a  physician  is  never  cordial, — not  even 
when  under  police  protection.  The  chief  opposition  and 
danger  are  found  among  the  inmates  of  cellars,  dives 
and  cheap  tenements.  These  people,  besides  being  poor, 
are  vicious  to  a  certain  degree.  Their  habits  are  so  filthy 
that  their  homes  are  always  hotbeds  of  disease.  They  re- 
gard the  suggestion  of  cleanliness  as  an  insult  and  resent 
the  intrusion  by  Health-officer  or  policemen  in  that  regard 
as  a  gross  outrage.  The  attempts  that  must  be  at  times 
made  to  preserve  the  public  health  by  cleaning  out  and 
disinfecting  these  places  and  by  ejecting  the  inmates  and 
condemning  the  building  always  produce  intense  excite- 
ment and  rage  in  the  breasts  of  these  poor  wretches. 
Without  the  Sanitary  Squad  to  preserve  the  peace,  a 
health-officer  in  such  a  case  would  be  assaulted  and  pos- 
sibly killed  in  the  performance  of  his  duty.  The  squad 
now  consists  of  four  officers,  but  can  be  increased  in- 
definitely in  a  few  minutes  upon  requisition  by  the  Board 
of  Health  upon  the  chief  of  police. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


205 


The  Central  Office  Squad 

The  Central  Office  Pquad  was  organized  in  1865,  to  re- 
lieve the  constantly  increasing  demand  on  the  regular 
police  force,  to  supply  patrolmen  for  special  duty.  It  is 
now  composed  of  thkty-three  men  and  one  sergeant,  with 
its  headquarters  located  on  the  fourth  floor  of  the  mu 
nicipal  huilding. 

Sergeant  M.  T.  Holbrook,  the  present  commander  of 
the  squad,  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  experienced 
members  of  the  force.  He  was  appointed  to  active  duty 
in  1851,  under  Mayor  Lambert,  and  detailed  as  health 
warden  ;  an  office  since  done  away  with.  He  remained 
in  that  department  until  1857  during  which  time  the 
Yellow  Fever  ravaged  the  city.  He  was  constantly  ex- 
posed to  the  disease,  but  escaped  any  injury.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1858,  he  was  appointed  to  do  patrol  duty  on  the 
Metropolitan  Pohce  by  Commissioner  Stranahan,  and  in 
the  f ollo^\'ing  year  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  Sergeant 
in  the  Forty-third  Precinct,  now  the  Third.  Hardly  a 
year  passed  before  he  was  again  promoted,  this  time, 
to  the  command  of  the  precinct,  where  he  remained  un- 
til the  war  broke  out. 

Having  considerable  knowledge  of  military  manoeu- 
vres, he  enlisted  in  the  One-hundred  and  Seventy-third 
Regiment,  Xew  York  Volunteers,  and  went  to  the  front 
in  command  of  a  company.  He  served  the  government 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  received  his  discharge 
with  the  rank  of  brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel.  When 
the  Central  Office  Squad  was  organized,  he  was  placed 
at  its  head,  where  he  remained  until  May  1806,  when  he 


206 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


was  appointed  captain  of  a  Staten  Island  Precinct.  Hol- 
brook  returned  to  Brooklyn  in  1870,  and  was  again  left 
without  a  position.  This  was  at  the  breaking  up  of  the  old 
Metropolitan  Police  Force,  and  the  political  situation  at 
the  time  had  considerable  to  do  with  his  removal  from 
police  duty. 

For  the  next  five  years,  he  was  unable  to  obtain  an 
appointment,  but  in  1875  found  a  place  as  Sergeant  of 
the  Ninth  Sub-  Precinct,  whence  he  v^as  promoted  to  the 
Ninth  Precinct.  In  1881,  after  faithfully  serving  the 
city  for  twenty-seven  years,  he  was  again  appointed  to 
the  command  of  the  Central  Office  Squad,  where  he 
still  remains. 

The  number  of  changes  in  Sergeant  Holbrook's  career, 
is  unequalled  by  those  of  any  other  member  of  the  force. 

The  officers  of  the  Central  Office  Squad  are  detailed 
for  duty  at  the  courts,  license-bureau,  theatres,  wed- 
dings, churches,  and  all  other  j)laces  where  there  are 
large  crowds.  They  are  also  employed  as  messengers 
by  the  Mayor,  Police  Commissioners  and  Superintendent. 
They  do  duty  as  doormen  and  watchmen,  in  the  city 
public  buildings.  One  is  stationed  at  the  Navy  Yard  to 
keep  small  boys  from  pelting  the  marines  with  stones 
while  they  are  on  duty,  to  which  failing  a  large  major- 
ity of  the*  youngsters  in  that  portion  of  the  city  had 
become  addicted  before  the  policemen  put  in  an  appear- 
ance. They  knew  the  marines  dare  not  fire  at  them  nor 
could  they  leave  their  post  of  duty,  so  the  boys  amused 
themselves  with  stone-throwing  by  the  hour. 

There  is  an  officer  detailed  to  each  of  the  Salvation 
Army  headquarters  nightly.  The  members  of  the  squad 
are  patrolmen  who  have  reported  sick  at  the  precinct 


MELLON  T.  IIOLBROOK, 
Sergeant. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


where  they  belong,  hut  not  being  ill  enough  to  be  con- 
fined to  their  homes  are  temporarily  placed  in  the  Cen- 
tral Office  Squad.  .  There  are,  however,  a  number  made 
permanently  incompetent  for  patrol  duty  by  accident  or 
a  long  siege  of  illness.  They  are  retained  in  Sergeant 
Holbrook's  connnand  for  the  remainder  of  their  lives 
and  draw  full  pay.  There  is  no  chance  of  advancement 
however,  and  although  the  life  led  by  all  is  easy,  quiet 
and  devoid  of  danger,  the  younger  men  are  always  anx- 
ious to  go  back  to  post  duty. 

A  number  of  court  officers,  not  connected  with  the 
Central  Office  Squad,  come  under  Sergeant  Holbrook's 
jurisdiction  at  night  when  they  are  detailed  at  some 
theatre,  mass-meeting  or  other  public  assemblage.  Mass- 
meetings  are  the  bete  noire  of  the  squad.  In  the  heat  of 
the  campaign  men's  passions  become  ungovernable  and 
quarrels,  brawls  and  fights  are  of  constant  occurrence. 
Weddings  and  baUs  are  the  very  opposite.  The  duties 
are  trifling  ;  supper,  wine  and  cigars  find  their  way  to 
the  officer  on  duty  and  not  infrequently  a  douceur  in  the 
shape  of  a  crisp  note  is  offered  to, — even  if  not  accepted 
by  him. 

The  arrests  made  by  the  Central  Office  Squad  are  as 
numerous  as  those  made  by  any  of  the  precincts.  This 
arises  from  the  fact  that  all  the  arrests  made  upon  war- 
rants or  commitments  from  the  police-courts  and  ex- 
ecuted by  the  officers  detailed  at  each  are  credited  not  to 
the  courts  but  to  the  Central  Office.  Courts,  such  as 
Justice  Walsh's,  do  an  immense  criminal  business  and 
in  the  course  of  a  year  issue  hundreds  of  mandates 
against  the  bodies  of  offenders  or  recalcitrant  witnesses. 
Aside  from  this  court-business,  the  arrests  are  few,  as, 


208 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


with  the  exception  of  now  and  then  a  pickpocket  at  a 
pubhc  place  or  a  disorderly  person,  the  officers  find  little 
to  relieve  the  monotony  of  their  duty.  Arrests  of  im- 
portance are  almost  unknown  in  the  squad,  except  those 
made  by  court  officers  on  a  judicial  warrant. 

The  Eogues'  Gallery. 

The  Eogues'  Gallery,  one  of  the  most  important  feat- 
ures of  the  Police  Department  is  in  the  detectives'  room 
and  under  the  direction  of  Detective  William  D.  Strong. 
It  is  not  open  to  the  public,  and  may  be  seen  only  by 
permission  of  the  superintendent.  The  collection  of 
photographs  numbers  over  three  thousand.  All  the 
pictures  in  the  possession  of  the  department  taken  prior 
to  November  20,  1877,  are  kept  in  large  albums,  of  which 
there  are  over  a  dozen,  and  those  taken  since  that  date 
are  exhibited  in  a  large  cabinet,  the  patent  of  Detective 
Thomas  Adams  of  New  York.  It  is  constructed  of  black 
walnut  and  is  composed  of  six  large  wooden  leaves, 
about  an  inch  and  a  half  in  thickness,  each  leaf  having 
receptacles  for  two  hundred  pictures,  so  that  the  cabinet 
is  arranged  to  contain  twelve  hundred  photographs. 
Attached  to  the  cabinet  are  record  books  with  numbers 
corresponding  to  those  inscribed  under  each  picture. 
These  contain  the  name,  age,  record  and  disposition  of 
case  and  are  kept  in  drawers  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
cabinet.  Every  grade  of  criminal  from  the  murderer  to, 
the  petty  sneak-thief  has  a  representative  in  the  collec- 
tion. 

The  first  picture  in  the  cabinet  is  that  of  John  Owens, 
a  petty  thief,  who  was  sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  six 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


209 


months  and  the  last  No.  1200  represents  Victor  Von  Bulon, 
a  good-looking  youth  about  fifteen  years  old,  who  four 
years  ago  was  sent  to  the  Elmira  Reformatory  for  stealing 
money  from  a  firm  where  he  was  employed  as  a  messen- 
ger. Two  of  the  most  hardened-looking  criminals  in  the 
collection  are  Eddie"  Guerin  and  "Billy"  Connors, 
each  of  whom  are  known  under  a  dozen  dift'erent  names. 
They  are  still  at  large,  but  w^hen  once  secured  they  will 
be  arraigned  and  charged  with  the  murder  of  Detective 
Hulligan,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  two  months  ago.  Police 
Captain  Hoehn  had  arrested  Connors  and  was  taking 
him  from  Allegheny  City,  Pennsylvania  on  an  express 
train  when  three  of  his  friends  boarded  the  car  and 
effected  his  release.  In  the  struggle  which  ensued  Guerin 
hit  Hulligan  on  the  head  with  a  couj^ling-pin,  killing 
him  instantly,  and  Captain  Hoehn  was  severely  injured. 
Rewards  of  eleven  thousand  dollars  have  been  offered 
for  their  apprehension  and  as  the  men  are  known  to 
have  connections  in  this  city,  it  is  thought  that  there  is 
some  chance  of  their  capture.  Xumber  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six  is  a  picture  that  would  naturally  attract 
your  attention.  It  is  that  of  John  M.  Wright,  the  mur- 
derer of  old  Barney  Feron,  the  Red-Hook  boatman.  The 
photograph  represents  a  light-haired  youth,  with  good 
features,  a  low  narrow  forehead  and  a  small  nose  and 
thin  lips,  the  last  person  one  would  suspect  of  being  a 
cold-blooded  murderer.  The  most  repulsive  featui'es  ex- 
hibited in  the  cabinet  are  those  of  William  B.  Dayton, 
number  five  hundred  and  twenty-nine,  who  was  arrested 
for  burglary  several  years  ago  and  sentenced  to  impris- 
onment for  one  year.  When  the  time  came  for  Dayton 
to  have  his  picture  taken,  the  authorities  found  that 


210 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


they  had  a  tough  job  on  hand.  He  strenously  objected 
to  undergo  the  operation,  and  twisted  and  squirmed  in 
every  direction.  An  officer  finally  got  hold  of  his  ears 
and  forcing  him  down  in  the  chair  held  him  while  the 
photographer  uncovered  his  camera.  Dayton  seeing 
that  he  had  to  be  taken,  determined  that  no  one  would 
recognize  in  the  j)ortrait  a  likeness  of  him  ;  by  twisting 
his  mouth,  and  rolling  up  his  eyes  until  nothing  but  the 
whites  were  visible,  he  accomplished  his  purpose.  The 
photograph,  when  finished,  looked  as  much  like  the  pho- 
tographer as  it  did  the  thief,  and  Dayton  was  happy. 
'  ^  Billy  "  Flynn,  the  notorious  burglar  who  was  arrested 
five  years  ago  as  he  was  about  to  rob  the  Greenpoint 
Savings  Bank  on  the  corner  of  Greenpoint  Avenue  and 
Franklin  street,  is  represented  in  picture  No.  1150.  He 
is  supposed  to  be  the  man  who  assisted  ''Jimmy" 
Burnes  the  Post-Office  robber  to  escape  from  Raymond 
Street  jail.  Flynn  served  out  his  sentence  and  then 
went  to  England  where  he  was  joined  by  Burnes,  Lang- 
ford,  Connelly,  Williams  and  a  number  of  other  bank 
burglars,  all  of  whom  landed  together  and  commenced 
a  series  of  daring  robberies.  About  eight  months  ago 
the  authorities  of  Baden-Baden  broke  up  the  gang  and 
the  leaders  are  now  in  prison,  where  they  will  remain 
for  the  next  twenty  years.  Among  other  conspicuous 
pictures  are  those  of  Rogers,  Bartlett  and  Martin,  Num- 
bers 125,  126  and  127,  who  were  arrested  in  connection 
with  the  Planet  Mills  robbery.  There  is  not  a  more  gen- 
tlemanly trio  in  the  collection.  Rogers  was  the  only  one 
that  was  acquitted,  the  others  were  found  guilty  and 
sent  to  prison  for  a  number  of  years.  Numbers  128  and 
129  represent  one  individual,  Lizzie  Leonard,  a  noted  con- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


211 


fidence  operator,  and  opium-fiend,  the  latter  as  a  woman 
and  the  former  as  a  stylish  young  man,  with  spring 
overcoat  derby  and  cane.  It  was  in  this  male  disguise 
that  she  was  arrested  in  an  Atlantic  Avenue  jewelry 
store,  and  afterwards  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  one 
year.  On  being  released  Lizzie  renewed  her  old  tricks 
and  masquerading  as  a  man,  plunged  into  dissipation. 
She  would  smoke  a  cigar  with  the  gusto  of  an  ''old 
timer,"  and  handle  a  cue  at  a  billiard-table  with  remark- 
able skill.  Lizzie  was  arrested  several  times,  but  as 
soon  as  she  was  free  again  she  would  go  back  to  her  old 
life.  The  features  of  another  confidence  woman  are  exhib- 
ited in  picture  Number  301.  Her  name  is  Mrs.  Ellen  Peck, 
and  her  deeds  were  of  the  boldest  kind.  Mrs.  Peck  main- 
tained an  elegant  establishment  on  Putnam  Avenue  with 
the  proceeds  of  her  swindling  operations.  Her  first  at- 
tempt in  the  confidence  line  was  upon  B.  T.  Babbitt,  the 
soap  manufacturer.  A  cashier  in  his  employ  had  de- 
camped with  one  hundred  thousand  dollars ;  Mrs.  Peck 
presented  herself  to  Mr.  Babbitt  as  a  female  detective, 
and  promised  to  arrest  the  embezzler  in  consideration  of 
twenty -two  thousand  dollars.  The  money  was  paid,  but 
Mrs.  Peck  never  exerted  herself  to  secure  the  defaulting 
cashier.  From  0' Grady  the  famous  diamond  broker,  or 
as  he  might  more  appropriately  be  termed  ''fence,"  Mrs. 
Peck  succeeded  in  getting  nineteen  thousand  dollars. 
Detectives  Powers  and  Zundt  of  the  Central  Office  Squad 
arrested  the  woman  as  she  was  stealing  four  hundred 
dollars  worth  of  jewelry  from  dealer  Johnson  of  the 
Bowery,  New  York.  Pictures  Numbers  231,  232,  233, 
234  are  Porter,  Irving,  Draper  and  Yost,  the  notorious 
Patchen  Avenue  gang  of  burglars,  whose  deeds  for  some 


212 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


time  were  the  talk  of  the  city.  WiUiam  H.  E.  Byrnes, 
whose  picture  is  Number  365,  was  a  forger.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  extravagant  tastes  and  committed  the 
crime  for  one  of  the  most  urgent  reasons  imaginable. 
He  wanted  to  get  married,  and,  not  having  the  necessary 
funds  to  start  in  the  business,  he  forged  a  check  in  pay- 
ment for  his  wedding  outfit.  The  result  was,  he  was  ar- 
rested while  enjoying  his  honeymoon  in  Philadelphia 
and  brought  back  to  this  city. 

Thomas  O'Brien  and  James  Flaherty,  two  of  the  most 
notorious  basement  door  thieves  that  ever  found  birth 
in  Brooklyn,  are  represented  in  pictures  Numbers  one- 
hundred  and  ninety-seven  and  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
eight.  Number  three-hundred  and  twenty-seven  looks 
like  a  well-to-do  merchant,  but  it  is  not.  It  is  a  picture 
of  Eube  Miner,  a  famous  confidence  man,  who  worked 
the  change  racket"  successfully  on  a  number  of  Flat- 
bush  Avenue  grocers  and  was  finally  caught  by  Detec- 
tives Looney  and  Lowry  of  the  Central  Squad  as  he  was 
in  the  act  of  stealing  a  pile  of  bills  from  a  counter  in  the 
Commercial  Bank.  Old  Wolf  Goetz,  alias The  Cock- 
roach," a  pickpocket  seventy-one  years  old  is  shown  in 
picture  number  four-hundred  and  fifty-two. 

Goetz  plied  his  vocation  for  some  time  without  being 
detected  but  when  he  tried  to  steal  seven  hundred  dol- 
lars from  the  pockets  of  Contractor  Dibble  of  the  Cross- 
town  car  line,  he  was  arrested  and  sent  to  prison.  One 
of  the  latest  additions  to  the  gallery  is  the  picture  of 
William  B.  Wadsworth,  the  gentleman  swindler  who 
defrauded  a  number  of  people  out  of  thirty  thousand 
dollars  on  a  plea  of  using  it  to  buy  real  estate  at  a  bar- 
gain.    As  soon  as  he  secured  the  money  he  left  for 


^  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  ^lo 

Canada.  A  Brooklyn  detective  met  liiiu  in  Clifton, 
Ontario,  and  urged  him  to  come  back  to  Brooklyn. 

Wadsworth  complied  with  the  request,  and  returned 
with  the  officer.  He  was  tried  and  sent  to  the  peniten- 
tentiary  for  five  years.  Wadsworth  was  once  an  em- 
ployee in  the  City  Works  Department  and  on  Sundays 
used  to  go  to  the  penitentiary  and  lead  the  convicts  in 
prayer. 

The  disgrace  attending  having  one's  picture  in  the 
rogue's  gallery  leads  to  curious  results.  Unrepentant 
criminals  recognize  them  as  dangerous  aids  to  the  police 
when  the  latter  are  engaged  in  looking  for  the  perpetra- 
tors of  a  crime.  Reformed  criminals  regard  them  as 
constant  witnesses  of  their  past  life.  Both  classes 
desire  to  destroy  or  remove  their  portraits  from  the  col- 
lection. The  practice  of  the  department  in  these  cases 
is  actuated  as  much  by  mercy  as  by  justice.  When  a 
reformed  criminal  has  shown  by  an  honest  life  that  he  is 
truly  a  repentant  man  and  satisfies  the  superintendent 
of  the  fact,  the  latter  will  remove  the  portrait.  Where 
a  man  has  been  unjustly  accused  and  acquitted  on  the 
merits,  or  wrongfully  convicted  and  afterwards  par- 
doned by  the  Executive,  the  same  practice  prevails. 
Here  the  courts  have  jurisdiction  and  in  several  cases 
have  commanded  the  removal  or  destruction  of  a  photo- 
graph where  the  police  had  refused  to  comply  with  a 
request  to  that  effect. 


CHAPTER  XIl. 


The  Central  Office  Detectives. 

Who  and  TVnAT  They  Ake.— Their  Duties  and  Dangers.— Present 
Relations  of  Criminals  and  Detectives. — At  the  Central 
Office. — Detective  Wm.  D.  Strong. — Detective  Michael  F. 
Powers. — Detective  James  H.  Roche. — Policy. — His  Views  on 
Poke-a-moke. — Detective  Patrick  Corr. — Senior  in  Service. — 
His  Knowledge  of  Crooks. — "Marked  Cards  and  Loaded 
Dice." — Detective  George  V.  Zundt. — Detective  Cornelius  J. 
Mahoney.  —Blackmailers. — Ten  Thousand  Dollars  Demanded. — 
Choking  a  Villain. — Detective  John  E.  Lowery. — Detective 
Edward  Looney.  —  Burglars  and  Burglaries.  —  "First-class 
Workmen."  —  "The  Lookout."  —  Early  liUNCHEs. —  How  Women 
Receive  Burglars. — Detective  John  Rall. — Robbing  a  Bank. — 
The  Clock  Trick. 

HE  Police  Detectives  of  Brooklyn  are  divided  into 
two  classes — those  of  the  Central  Office  and  those 
attached  to  the  Precincts,  the  former  numhering  nine 
and  the  latter  thirty-five.  Nearly  all  are  men  of  pleasant 
address,  good  appearance,  great  com^age  and  fine  intelli- 
gence: All  have  had  long  and  eventful  experiences,  and 
are  sources  of  endless  amusement  to  their  friends,  and 
of  interest  to  the  general  public  through  the  intervention 
of  the  press.  No  column  in  the  great  dailies  of  the  land 
is  more  fascinating  than  that  w^hich  contains  some  good 
detective  story  of  the  present  day.  In  this  respect,  the 
members  of  the  Brooklyn  force  are  as  entertaining  in 
their  v^ay  as  the  famous  French  v^riters,  Gaboriau  and 
Boisgobey.  Nor  is  it  any  wronder. 
During  the  past  forty  years  crime  in  all  its  branches, 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


215 


as  well  as  the  modes  of  detection,  has  made  many  rapid 
strides.  Each  has  developed  into  a  science  as  complex 
and  far-reaching  as  any  that  now  engrosses  the  philoso- 
pher and  the  specialist.  The  detective  himself  has  mi- 
dergone  a  complete  metamorphosis.  The  time  was  when 
a  halo  of  romance  was  thrown  around  the  disreputable 
mouchard^^  of  the  Parisian  Corps  detectif — when  the 
"  Bow  street  runner  "  of  London,  and  the  shadow  "  of 
the  American  police  were  the  ideal  detectives  of  the  age 
in  which  they  lived.  All  these  have  passed  away,  how- 
ever, and  to-day  the  American  detective  stands  out  in 
bold  relief  from  all  such  associations.  His  calling  has 
become  a  profession,  and  himseh'  an  intelligent,  keen- 
sighted  and  accomplished  gentleman,  relying  upon  his 
own  high  moral  character,  his  superior  intelligence  and 
his  indefatigable  energy  for  the  success  which  he  has  at- 
tained. The  reason  and  necessity  for  this  advancement 
are  evident.  Crime,  even,  has  become  more  and  more 
scientific  with  the  flight  of  time,  and  its  ranks  are  filled 
by  men,  who,  in  honorable  callings  would  have  achieved 
both  fame  and  fortune.  Among  the  criminal  classes  to- 
day are  to  be  found  persons  of  powerful  minds,  of  strong 
will  and  of  educational  advantages  which,  if  correctly 
apphed,  would  have  enabled  them  to  make  their  mark 
in  the  professional  and  business  circles  of  the  com- 
munity. Unfortunately,  however,  their  great  talents  are 
prostituted  to  base  uses.  The  greed  of  gain,  the  desire 
to  possess  themselves  of  the  property  of  others,  without 
the  labor  acquired  for  honest  accumulation,  have  led 
them  to  adopt  the  nature  of  the  wild  beast  and  to  prey 
unscrupulously  upon  the  community  at  large.  One  of 
the  most  vital  questions  which  presents  itself  for  solu- 


210 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


tion  to  the  criminal  is  how  to  accomphsh  an  object  and 
yet  succeed  in  shrouding  himself  from  detection.  Suc- 
cess in  crime  which  is  immediately  followed  by  detec- 
tion would  be  but  an  unprofitable  and  unsatisfactory 
experiment,  and  hence  the  best  energies  of  the  intelli- 
gent criminal  are  devoted  to  the  achievement  of  success 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  baffle  the  detective  and  secure 
immunity  from  punishment.  To  prevent  this  success, 
as  well  as  to  secure  the  offender,  therefore,  the  detective 
must  also  be  advanced.  He  must  be  possessed  of  a  mind 
which  is  the  equal  and,  if  possible,  the  superior  of  his 
antagonist.  He  must  be  endowed  with  a  clear,  honest 
and  comprehensive  understanding  which  will  enable  him 
to  fathom  the  depths  of  criminal  science,  and  a  force  of 
will  and  vigor  of  body  necessary  to  overcome  the  nature 
and  the  disposition  of  the  men  with  whom  he  has  to 
contend.  In  addition  to  this  he  must  appear  the  careless, 
ordinary  individual,  particularly  to  those  upon  whom  he 
has  to  operate,  assimilating,  as  far  as  possible,  with  the 
individuals  who  are  destined  to  feel  the  force  of  his 
authority,  and  by  appearing  to  know  but  little,  acquire  all 
the  information  possible  to  gather  from  every  conceiv- 
able source,  and  in  the  least  curious  or  inquisitorial  man- 
ner. Possessed  of  an  ability  to  adapt  himself  to  every 
association  in  which  he  may  find  himself,  and  at  the 
same  time  prolific  in  resources,  he  must  be  prepared  at 
all  times,  when  emergencies  arise  which  require  quick , 
conceptions  and  ready  subterfuges.  To-day  his  associ- 
ates may  be  of  the  lowest  orders  of  humanity,  and  to- 
morrow he  mingles  with  the  best.  He  must  at  all  times 
be  upon  his  guard,  ever  ready  to  take  advantage  of  the 
most  trifling  circumstances,  and  yet,  with  an  outward 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


217 


demeanor  that  dispels  suspicion  and  invites  the  fullest 
confidence.  The  profession  of  the  detective  is  at  once 
an  honorable  and  highly  useful  one.  For  practical  ben- 
efits few  professions  excel  it.  He  is  an  officer  of  justice, 
and  must  himself  be  pure  and  above  reproach.  The 
public  safety  and  the  perfect  fulfilment  of  his  duty  re- 
quire all  this  and  even  more. 

These  suggestions  apply  in  an  eminent  degree  to  the 
members  of  the  Central  Office  Squad  of  Detectives,  and 
will  be  appreciated  in  reading  the  brief  sketches  of  their 
careers  which  follow. 

William  D.  Strong  is  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Demas 
Strong,  one  of  the  best-known  citizens  of  the  Eastern 
District,  where  he  was  born  in  18i5.  In  September,  1873, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  he  joined  the  force  and  did  duty 
as  patrolman.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  to  the  detective 
corps.  At  present  Mr.  Strong  has  charge  of  the  Eogues' 
Gallery,  as  well  as  the  clerical  portion  of  the  work  in  the 
detective  department.  He  keeps  a  record  of  each 
criminal  photographed,  his  pedigree  in  crime,  physical 
peculiarities  and  distinguishing  marks.  But  this  is  by 
no  means  all.  Neat  and  careful  in  his  attire,  he  is  in  great 
demand  at  great  balls,  receptions  and  parties.  When 
attired  in  evening  costume  he  is  indistinguishable  from 
the  guests.  A  part  of  his  work  is  in  patrolling  the 
thoroughfares  which  are  crowded  with  shoppers.  Here 
his  invaluable  knowledge  of  pickpockets  and  sneak- 
thieves,  blackmailers  and  "  crooks  "  is  put  into  constant 
use,  and  serves  to  save  the  public  from  depredations  of 
all  sorts. 

Detective  Michael  F.  Powers  is  a  thick-set  muscular 
man  about  forty -two  years  of  age.    After  some  years  of 


218 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


service  on  the  New  York  police  force,  he  became  a 
patrolman  on  the  Brooklyn  force  in  the  spring  of  1870. 
On  July  26th  of  the  same  year,  he  received  his  present 
appointment.  Powers  has  been  connected  with  many 
celebrated  cases,  and  it  is  notable  that  most  of  the  crim- 
inals he  arrests  are  convicted. 

Detective  Jas.  H.  Eoche  has  seen  forty-one  summers. 
He  became  a  patrolman  May  12th,  1869,  and  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  detective  in  July,  1871,  since 
when  he  has  continually  served  either  on  Precinct  or 
Central  Office  duty.  In  connection  with  his  associates 
he  has  closed  the  policy-shops  of  Brooklyn,  which  at 
one  time  were  a  crying  evil.  Years  ago,  their  number 
was  legion.  Some  were  run  in  the  guise  of  brokers' 
offices,  others  in  cigar  stores,  coal  and  wood  agencies, 
news  venders'  shops,  and  even  bar-rooms  and  restau- 
rants. The  front  establishment  conducts  a  legitimate 
business.  Behind  a  partition,  in  the  rear,  the  policy  clerk 
or  writer  "  takes  your  money  and  gives  you  your  paper 
slips  with  your  chosen  numbers  inscribed  on  them,  in  a 
lamp-lighted  room,  with  no  furniture  but  a  battered 
desk,  a  blackboard  on  the  wall  for  the  winning  numbers 
to  be  chalked  upon,  and  a  couple  of  dirty  dream  books 
in  English  and  German,  hanging  by  a  chain.  The  sur- 
roundings of  policy  are  like  the  game  itself,  mean, 
sordid  and,  to  every  decent  sensibility,  disgusting.  No 
game  of  chance,  however,  is  more  extensively  played  in 
this  city  than  policy.  Faro  has  an  army  of  followers, 
but  policy  players  are  a  legion.  As  a  rule,  faro  players 
are  policy  players  also,  especially  the  dealers,  lookouts, 
cue-keepers,  and  others  connected  in  the  running  of  the 
game.    Some  of  them  play  very  heavily,  but  the  major- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


219 


ity  do  not.  They  regard  policy  as  an  amusing  play- 
thing—something to  be  indulged  in  during  the  day, 
when  their  own  business  is  dull.  So  the  money  they 
draw  from  the  faro  bank  goes  into  the  policy-shop  ;  in 
exchange,  if  they  make  a  hit,"  the  money  invariably 
goes  into  the  faro  bank.  Many  regard  policy  as  the 
negroes'  game  exclusively,  but  that  is  a  mistake.  The 
white  devotees  of  the  game  out-number  the  colored,  five 
to  one.  Gamblers,  as  a  class,  are  very  superstitious, 
the  policy  player  especially  so.  His  time  is  divided  be- 
tween trying  to  guess  the  lucky  numbers  and  avoiding 
evil  omens.  Bad  luck  walks  arm  in  arm  with  him  under 
every  ladder  ;  if  he  forgets  anything,  and  has  to  turn 
back,  he  is  ruined  for  the  day  ;  if  he  accidentally  lets 
something  fall  from  his  hand  he  has  ''dropped  his  luck," 
and  if  he  meets  a  cross-eyed  jDerson,  especially  the  first 
thing  on  Monday  morning,  he  is  plunged  into  despair. 
This  latter  is  considered  the  most  unfortunate  circum- 
stance that  could  possibly  happen,  as  it  puts  bad  luck  on 
a  man  for  a  whole  week.  It  is  estimated  by  an  old 
policy  player  that  every  dollar  a  man  gets  out  of  the 
game  costs  him  at  least  five,  without  counting  his  time 
and  worriment  of  mind.  For  instance,  hundreds  of  men 
play  the  numbers  four,  eleven,  forty-four  every  day 
regularly,  and  this  well-known  "gig  "only  comes  out 
about  once  a  year,  or  say  once  in  every  six  hundred 
draAvings.  This  is  especially,  the  negroes'  "gig."  He 
watches  for  its  coming  day  after  day  with  fond  anticipa- 
tion. He  would  rather  "ketch  dat  'ar  gig"  for  five 
dollars  than  receive  a  present  of  ten.  It  furnishes  him 
with  a  subject  of  conversation  and  renders  him  a  hero  in 
"Africa."    The  lotteries  now  sold  are  all  supposed  to  be 


220 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


drawn  in  Kentucky,  and  pay  to  that  State  annually  a 
certain  sum,  either  into  the  school  fund  or  for  the  bene- 
fit of  orphans.  They  are  really  almost  all  made  up, 
even  without  the  formality  of  a  drawing,  in  Brooklyn, 
by  experts  who  calculate  them  so  as  to  give  whatever 
winnings  are  given  to  the  least  number  of  people  who 
have  bought  certain  iiumbers.  After  the  drawing  is 
transacted  a  list  of  the  numbers  on  a  "  running  slip, "  as 
it  is  called,  is  sent  to  the  various  policy  shops.  No 
"hits"  are  paid  on  the  running  slips,  as  some  of  the 
numbers  are  invariably  wrong.  About  an  hour  or  so 
after  the  drawings  are  received  in  Brooklyn,  a  printed 
slip  is  sent  to  every  office,  and  then  all  claims  are 
promptly  settled.  The  managers,  being  in  an  unlawful 
business  in  this  State,  have  the  opportunity  to  swindle  as 
they  please.  The  players  have  no  redress.  Ten  thousand 
dollar  "hits  "have  been  made,  according  to  tradition, 
and  "hits  "of  from  five  hundred  to  one  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars  are  known  of  sometimes,  so  people  say. 
In  fact,  though  no  very  heavy  prizes  are  ever  paid  if 
one  has  by  accident  been  drawn  at  any  office  the  place 
is  shut  up,  and  the  lucky  holder  left  to  curse  himself 
into  good  humor  and  commence  over  again.  The  most 
of  the  money  spent  in  policy  is  on  "gigs"  and  "com- 
binations." A  ^'gig''  is  composed  of  three  numbers, 
and  they  must  all  come  out  in  the  same  lottery  to  entitle 
the  player  to  win.  Besides  gigs  "  there  are  "  saddles," 
' '  capitals, "  ' '  horses, "  ' '  cross-plays, "  and  ' '  station-num- 
bers." "Gigs  "  pay  one  hundred  dollars  for  one  capital, 
"saddles  "  five  hundred  for  a  dollar,  and  "  station  num- 
bers "  sixty  dollars. 

Detective  Roche,  summing  up  the  game  says,  * '  when 


BROOKLYN  8  GUARDIAXS. 


221 


it  is  run  square  they  rob  you  of  all  your  money,  and 
when  it  isn't  square,  they  take  everything  you've  got, 
even  the  clothes  on  your  back. " 

Patrick  Corr  is  the  senior  in  service  of  the  Central 
Office  Detective  Squad.  He  is  fifty-two  years  of  age, 
and  has  been  on  the  force  since  January  13,  1857.  He 
performed  patrol  duty  till  the  spring  of  1869  when  he 
was  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Precinct  as  Detective.  In 
1871  he  was  transferred  to  the  Central  Office  where  he 
has  since  remained.  Discreet,  close-mouthed,  inde- 
fatigable and  intelligent,  he  has  earned  a  reputation 
that  would  do  honor  to  the  best  of  men.  He  has  a  large 
acquaintanceship  among  the  ''confidence  men"  of  the 
two  cities.  He  tells  many  good  stories  of  their  tricks 
and  wiles,  but  none  superior  to  the  following  :  ' '  I  was 
strolling  dowm  town  the  other  morning,  and  feeling  hun- 
gry, dropped  into  a  restaurant.  There,  large  as  life,  was 
a  boss  crook  whom  I  have  taken  in  once  or  twdce,  but 
who  generally  succeeds  in  evading  or  escaping  the  law. 
I  sat  down  at  the  same  table  and  asked  him  what  he  was 
doing  now.    He  smiled,  winked  and  replied  : 

"  '  I  have  found  honesty  to  be  the  best  policy,  and 
have  gone  into  a  legitimate  business. 

"  '  What  is  that  V  I  asked,  having  missed  him  from  his 
usual  haunts. 

''•Teaching  the  innocent  rustic  and  unsophisticated 
suburban.  I  average  one  scholar  a  day,  and  the  scheme 
pays  very  well.  I  struck  the  racket  last  winter  and 
have  found  it  a  picnic.  How  do  I  work  it  i  I  put  a 
card  in  fifty  country  newspapers  : 

'  Fortunes  Made.  Gamhlevs  Tricks  Exposed.  Marked  Cards, 
Loaded.  Dice,  Bugs  and  Patent  Bo.res  for  sale,  with  instructions. 
Lessons  at  Reasonable  Rates.  Address 


222 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


' ' '  The  rustic  sees  this,  and  in  the  same  paper  reads  of 
a  man  winning  $25,000  at  faro.  He  writes  me  and  I 
send  him  a  price  hst.  It  is  the  same  as  that  used  by 
regular  dealers  in  gambling  goods,  only  about  fifty 
per  cent,  higher  in  prices.  If  the  fellow  wants  to  buy  I 
sell  and  make  a  decent  profit.  But  what  catches  is  a 
notice  at  the  end, 

'  Having  been  a  professional  gambler  twenty  years,  I  am  famil- 
iar with  every  trick  of  the  trade,  and  guarantee  to  make  any 
novice  proficient  in  three  lessons,  and  skillful  enough  to  meet 
any  blackleg  on  equal  terms.    Terms,  $1  a  lesson  of  one  hour. 

' ' '  The  chump  reads  that  and  comes  on  and  calls.  I 
have  a  deal  with  the  landlord  of  the  place  I  board  at,  and 
receive  my  pupil  in  the  parlor.  The  best  racket  is  to 
teach  him  to  use  loaded  dice  or  marked  cards.  In  an 
hour  he's  got  the  hang  of  it ;  but,  of  course  he  is  very 
clumsy.  We  go  down  to  the  nearest  barroom,  and  throw 
for  drinks.  My  pal  comes  up  to  the  bar  and  looks 
interested  in  the  game,  and  asks  us  to  let  him  in.    I  say 

certainly,"  and  give  my  bucolic  friend  the  wink.  My 
pal  then  loses  two  or  three  rounds,  and  wants  to  throw 
for  a  quarter  a  head.  We  accede.  My  pal  loses,  the 
rustic  beats  him,  but  I  win.  After  a  few  throws  I  pull 
my  watch  out  and  plead  an  engagement,  and  get  out. 
As  I  leave  I  whisper  to  the  countryman  that  he  has  a 
picnic,  and  to  work  the  fellow  for  all  he  is  worth.  I 
then  skip.  The  game  continues,  and  in  fifteen  minutes 
my  pupil  is  cleaned  out.  If  he  kicks  ]ny  pal  suddenly 
picks  up  one  of  the  loaded  dice  and  starts  a  row.  If  the 
the  man  isn't  a  fighter,  my  pal  hits  him  on  the  nose.  If 
he  is,  we  call  on  the  gang  that  hangs  around  all  saloons, 
and  bounce  him  for  a  blackleg.  You  can  bet  he  never 
comes  back,  and  he  doesn't  complain  to  the  police.  Even 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  223 

if  he  did  wed  have  the  dead  wood  on  him  and  could 
easily  prove  that  he  rung  in  loaded  dice  on  us.  The 
racket's  just  the  same  with  nitirked  cards,  but  only  a 
little  slower.    What  do  you  think  of  the  game  i " 

^'Ingenious  ;  but  doesn't  the  landlord  of  the  boarding- 
house,  or  the  saloon,  object  ?" 

"  'Na-o!  Don't  you  see  we  divvy  up  ?  According  to 
how  good  the  business  is,  we  yield  from  15  to  40  per  cent. 
Why,  I'd  give  TO  per  cent.,  if  I  could  work  a  first  class 
hotel.  On  the  proceeds  I  and  my  pal  go  halves.  How 
much  do  we  collar  ?  Can't  say.  Anywhere  from  an  X 
up.  Old  Long  Island  farmers  and  New  Jersey  deacons 
generally  come  to  town  quite  well  fixed,  and  they  often 
yield  a  century.  The  funniest  thing  in  tlie  whole  matter 
is  that  the  rustic  never  tumbles  to  me.  Three  or  four 
times  I've  met  suckers  we'd  worked,  and  every  time  they 
came  up,  shook  hands  and  treated.  They'd  tell  me 
yarns  how  they  put  up  jobs  with  the  tricks  I  taught 
them,  but  they  never  spoke  of  their  losses. 

Detective  George  Y.  Zundt  is  forty-two  years  of  age, 
dark  complexioned,  rather  stout,  very  intelligent  and 
interesting.  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Thirteenth  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  and  went  to 
the  seat  of  war.  He  served  three  months;  on  his  return 
he  re-entered  the  ranks  of  the  Thirteenth  and  served 
another  month.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  Fifty-fourth 
New  York  Volunteers,  and  fought  until  the  war  was 
over.  Zundt  became  a  patrolman  February  Gth,  1871, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  till  1875,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  Detective,  and  detailed  to  the  Central  Ofiice. 
He  is  a  member  of  Rankin  Post  No.  10,  G.  A.  R. 

Cornelius  J.  Mahoney  is  said  to  be  the  handsomest 


224 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


man  in  the  Central  Office  Detective  Squad.  He  is  forty- 
five  years  of  age,  dark  co]nplexioned  and  in  all  a  model 
type  of  physical  manhood.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to 
enlist  in  the  Fourteenth  Eegiment  when  the  Rebellion 
broke  out.  He  never  received  a  wound,  although  on 
several  occasions  he  was  complimented  for  his  bravery. 
In  1873  he  joined  the  police  force,  and  was  detailed  as 
patrolman  in  the  Third  Precinct.  In  this  capacity  he 
served  two  years  and  was  then  appointed  a  detective. 
He  remained  in  the  Third  Precinct  until  January,  1887, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Central  Office.  His  ex- 
periences with  malefactors  have  been  extremely  varied, 
including  almost  every  form  of  crime.  He  has,  among 
other  wrong-doers,  arrested  many  blackmailers.  One 
case  was  quite  out  of  the  ordinary  run.  Says  Mahoney: 
"A  short  time  ago  I  was  called  on  professionally  by  a 
gentleman  who  wished  my  aid  in  getting  rid  of  a  man 
and  woman  who  had  pestered  him  grievously.  He  had 
met  them  at  one  of  the  fashionable  hotels  at  the  Cat- 
skills,  and  had  carried  on  a  flirtation  with  the  woman, 
who  was  young  and  fascinating.  Of  course  he  had  com- 
promised himself*,  and  the  result  was  that  he  had  been 
visited  unexpectedly  by  the  woman's  alleged  husband, 
who  demanded,  under  pain  of  the  fullest  exposure, 
$10,000.  He  gave  the  man  his  check  for  $7,000  on  one 
of  the  city  banks,  thinking  that  was  the  easiest  way  to 
settle  the  trouble,  and  was  assured  that  there  the  matter 
would  rest.  A  month  later  he  received  a  letter,  in 
which  an  additional  sum  of  money  was  demanded. 
Eealizing  that  compliance  with  this  request  would  render 
him  liable  to  further  assessments,  he  placed  the  matter 
in  my  hands.    I  saw  at  once  that  he  had  been  the  victim 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


225 


of  blackmailers  and  immediately  called  on  the  outraged 
husband,  who  had  come  down  from  Garrisons  that  day, 
and  was  then  waiting  to  meet  my  patron  at  a  neighbor- 
ing saloon.  He  grew  highly  indignant  when  I  informed 
him  that  he  would  not  get  another  dollar,  and  threat- 
ened to  lick  me  when  I  told  him  I  would  send  him  to 
State  Prison  if  he  further  annoyed  the  gentleman.  I 
gave  him  a  good  choking  and,  I  think,  discolored  his 
eyes  when  he  became  unbearably  insolent,  which  so 
frightened  the  villain  that  he  has  not  been  heard  of 
since." 

John  E.  Lowery  was  born  thirty  years  ago.  In  1878  he 
entered  the  ranks  as  a  patrolman,  and  for  seven  years 
did  good  service  in  that  capacity.  In  1880  he  was  made 
a  detective,  but  has  only  been  attached  to  the  Central 
Office  since  January,  1887.  Lowery  is  very  good-natured 
and  very  popular. 

Detective  Edward  Looney  is  a  man  forty  years  of  age. 
He  was  appointed  to  the  force  in  1870,  and  served  for 
a  year  as  patrolman.  In  1871  he  was  made  roundsman, 
and  in  1873,  sergeant.  In  1875  he  assumed  his  present 
position  on  the  Central  Office  Squad,  and  has  filled  it 
continually  since.  A  man  of  great  bravery,  he  has  time 
and  again,  when  duty  demanded  it,  risked  his  life  when 
death  seemed  inevitable. 

Looney  is  regarded  as  an  authority  upon  burglars  and 
burglaries  by  his  associates.  He  has  probably  had  more 
experience  with  this  class  of  criminals  than  most 
officials  of  the  land.  His  description  of  the  Knight  of 
the  Jimmy  is  worth  repeating  : 

There  are  fashions  in  the  way  of  committing  burglar- 
ies just  as  there  are  in  bonnets.    The  really  first-class 


226 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


workmen,  who  undertake  nothing  but  gigantic  jobs,  are 
generally  English.  Some  men  tackle  nothing  but  banks 
and  stores,  making  the  opening  of  a  safe  a  specialty. 
Dwelling-house  robbery  is  falhng  into  disrepute  in  the 
big  cities,  but  is  still  in  vogue  in  the  country.  Many  of 
the  most  useful  operators  do  nothing  but  plan.  When  they 
have  made  the  line  of  attack  out,  as  they  would  prospect 
the  moves  in  a  game  of  chess,  they  pass  the  scheme  over  to 
the  workers.  Burglars'  tools  are  always  constructed  of 
the  finest  materials.  Some  of  them  illustrate  the  applica- 
tion of  deeper  principles  of  natural  philosophy  than  we  ever 
imagined  in  an  honest  work-shop,  and  there  are  iron  and 
steel  contrivances,  used  in  opening  safes,  the  nature  and 
purposes  of  which  would  utterly  confound  a  safe  manu- 
facturer. The  hour  selected  is  generally  about  3  a.  m., 
the  chances  being  in  favor  of  the  inmates  having  all 
encamped  in  the  pleasant  land  of  dreams.  A  back  shutter 
is  pried  open;  a  balcony  is  scaled,  and  a  second  story 
window  raised;  or  they  may  go  through  the  coal  hole  in 
the  pavement  and  force  the  door  at  the  kitchen  stairs. 
Sometimes  the  job  is  done  alone,  and  then  again  there 
are  several  engaged,  one  remaining  outside  as  a  sentinel. 
A  burglar  in  alluding  to  the  attempt  to  rob  a  tailor's  store 
in  Washington  street,  which  resulted  in  the  arrest  of  two 
young  men  who  have  since  been  sentenced  to  five  years 
each  in  prison,  said  it  was  all  the  fault  of  the  '  lookout.' 

^ 'A' ^  lookout '  occupies  a  very  responsible  position, 
whether  on  board  a  ship  or  connected  with  a  burglary. 
Imagine  the  burglar  in  the  house.  He  has  reached  the 
parlor  floor,  and  pauses  to  listen.  The  darkness,  the 
silence,  must  be  terrible.  His  own  breathing  seems  like 
a  mighty  storm  of  wind.    Satisfied  that  there  is  no  one 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


227 


in  the  immediate  neighborhood,  he  produces  his  lantern 
cautiously,  and  in  a  second,  as  he  sweeps  it  al)out,  gets 
the  lay  of  the  land.  If  he  is  after  plate,  the  dining-room 
is  visited,  the  pantry  and  butler's  closet  forced,  and  the 
articles  of  silver  ware  piled  high  upon  the  table,  ready  to 
be  done  up  in  the  table-cloth,  or  thrust  into  a  less  sus- 
picious bag  provided  for  the  purpose.  It  is  at  this  stage 
of  the  burglary,  that,  in  many  instances,  the  gentleman 
of  the  mask  and  'jimmy'  enjoy  a  little  lunch.  'Some 
of  the  best  eating  I  ever  had,'  a  burglar  said,  'was  at 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning  in  a  house  on  the  Heights. 
There  w^as  no  one  present  but  the  three  of  us,  and  as 
luck  w^ould  have  it,  we  found  as  many  bottles  of  fizz. 
The  family  asleep  up-stairs  consisted  of  an  old  doctor 
with  the  gout,  his  wife,  and  a  nigger  cook  about  a  hundred 
years  of  age.  For  a  long  while  we  w^ere  afraid  to  cut  the 
wires  on  account  of  the  noise  made  by  the  corks,  but  we 
finally  managed.  There  was  cold  turkey,  fancy  pastry, 
and  any  quantity  of  good  grub.  I  got  three  years  shortly 
after  that  flyer,  and  when  I  was  eating  my  skilly  up 
the  river  I  often  thought  of  our  sitting  about  the  table, 
with  the  chandelier  lit,  a-carousing  and  a-toasting  each 
other  in  dumb  show.  It's  a  dangerous  racket,  this  drink- 
ing while  on  business.  A  friend  of  mine  is  now  doing 
ten  years  for  trying  to  carry  off  some  swag  and  two 
bottles  of  brandy  under  his  vest  at  the  same  time.  They 
found  him  with  his  plunder  in  the  hall,  sound  asleep,  in 
the  morning  when  the  servant  came  down  to  get  break- 
fast.' 

"When  the  burglar  has  to  enter  a  sleep-room,  he 
takes  his  life  in  his  hand.  He  knows  that  the  law  not 
only  authorizes,  but  urges  anyone  belonging  to  the  prem- 


228 


BROOKMYN  S  GUARDIANS. 


ises  to  shoot  him  down  hke  a  dog.  An  accidental  noise, 
the  capricious  wakefulness  of  an  inmate,  the  stumbling 
into  a  house  where  some  one  is  sick,  all  these  are  proba- 
bilities which  render  a  struggle  necessary,  and  which 
so  frequently  turn  planned  robbery  into  unpremeditated, 
murder.  ^ As  to  that, '  the  burglar  remarked,  ^  the  case 
stands  this  way.  You  know  you  will  get  about  fifteen 
years  if 'detained  by  the  man  you  are  fighting  with,  inch 
by  inch,  out  of  the  room  to  the  hall,  then  to  the  stairs,  or 
a  window;  and  you  also  know  that  if  you  kill  him  there 
are  just  a  few  chances  of  escape  from  hanging.  When 
John  Dolan  robbed  Noe,  the  brush  manufacturer,  in 
Greenwich  street,  he  had  no  idea  of  committing  murder. 
He  did  it  through  reasoning  the  matter  w^hile  fighting 
the  old  man.  Same  way  with  the  Nathan  case.  That 
dog  would  never  have  been  used  if  Mr.  Nathan  had 
not  put  in  an  appearance.' 

' ' '  How  do  women  act  when  burglars  surprise  them  ?' " 
Then  he  told  me  about  being  one  of  a  party  that  entered 
a  cashier's  house  in  a  watering-place,  a  mere  village,  to 
get  the  keys  of  the  bank  and  the  combination  of  the  safe. 
There  were  some  pretty  cousins  stopping  with  the 
banker,  and  they,  with  all  the  other  inmates,  were 
hunted  up  and  brought  down  into  one  room,  all  in  dis- 
hahille.  with  hastily  picked  up  shawls  and  wraps  and 
tiny  bare  feet  thrust  into  high-heeled  shoes  and  slippers, 
and  kept  there  under  guard  of  my  friend  while  the  rob- 
bery was  executed.  The  cashier  had  to  be  gagged  and 
bound,  even  after  he  had  delivered  the  keys,  but  the 
girls  were  subjected  to  no  such  indignity.  They  made 
themselves  as  comfortable  as  possible,  and  one  or  two 
actually  seemed  to  enjoy  the  novel  experience.    It  was 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


229 


the  next  thing  to  hemg  run  away  with  hy  bandits/ " 
Detective  John  Ball  was  appointed  a  pohcemaii  Janu- 
ary 21,  1ST2;  and  after  a  number  of  years  became  a  de- 
tective, and  was  detailed  as  a  member  of  the  Central 
Office  Squad.  He  is  a  very  silent  man,  arid  is  not  as  well 
known  as  Iris  colleagues.  He  has  done  much  good  work, 
and  is  in  everywise  a  trustworthy  man.  He  is  conver- 
sant with  all  the  ways  of  criminals.  "  Crooks  have  one 
queer  feature, "  he  said  to  the  writer,  ^^and  that  is  they 
like  to  describe  and  exaggerate  their  exploits  to  their  legal 
enemies — the  police.  I  presume  every  officer  can  relate 
a  dozen  good  stories  thus  told  him  by  some  malefactor. 
One. a  short  while  ago  told  me  the  following  : 

'At  a  bank  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  I  did  a  good  job,  but  did 
not  take  much  satisfaction  in  it.  When  you  beat  a  sharp 
man,  there  is  something  to  rejoice  over.  You  have  put 
your  wits  against  his  and  come  out  ahead.  In  this  case  the 
cashier  was  a  squirt  of  a  fellow,  about  twenty-three  years 
of  age.  The  cashier's  den  was  not  railed  off  and  caged  up 
in  those  days  as  now,  and  they  were  not  so  careful  of 
their  piles  of  money.  This  chap  seemed  proud  to  pile  up 
the  bills  and  coin  around  him,  and  the  moment  I  got  a 
look  at  things  I  knew  that  he  was  our  game.  The  only 
man  to  be  afraid  of  was  the  book-keeper.  He  was  a 
bald-headed  old  fellow  of  forty-five,  and  had  his  place 
next  to  the  cashier,  and  what  he  didn't  hear  and  see  was 
not  worth  attention.  The  manager  and  collector  were  in 
the  bank  most  of  the  time,  but  at  two  o'clock  always 
went  out  somewhere,  and  were  gone  a  full  half  hour. 
This  left  only  the  cashier  and  book-keeper  to  deal 
with.  There  were  two  of  us  in  the  job,  and 
after  we    had  piped  off  the  bank  until  we  knew 


230 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


it,  I  entered  the  place  one  morning  and  asked  to 
see  the  manager.  I  was  the  agent  of  a  new  Chicago 
clock  company  for  the  manufacture  of  bank,  office  and 
railroad  clocks,  and,  as  an  advertisment  for  our  concern, 
would  put  up  a  time-piece  on  the  wall  and  let  it  remain  a 
year  free,  gratis.  The  clock  then  on  hand  was  a  cheap 
affair,  and  the  manager  jumped  at  my  offer.  I  selected 
the  place  for  it,  and  told  him  it  would  be  hung  up  during 
the  afternoon.  We  had  piped  the  old  bald-head  off 
several  days  before,  and  knew  just  how  we  were  going  to 
manage  him.  He  lived  at  least  two  miles  away,  and 
just  after  two  o'clock,  when  the  two  men  were  left  alone 
in  the  bank,  a  boy  came  in  with  a  note  telling  him  that 
his  wife  had  received  a  serious  fall.  He  clapped  on  his 
hat  and  started  for  home,  just  as  we  had  planned,  and  I 
entered  the  place  in  company  with  my  partner.  He  had 
a  clock  on  his  arm  which  had  cost  us  thirty  dollars.  The 
opinion  of  the  smart  cashier  was  asked  on  various  de- 
tails, and  he  came  out  in  front  of  the  counter  and  gave 
orders  where  the  clock  should  be  put  up.  While  he  was 
dancing  around,  some  evil-minded  person  put  nine  thou- 
sand dollars  in  gold  and  bills  into  an  old  satchel,  and 
then  stood  around  until  the  clock  was  up.  The  reason 
he  didn't  clean  out  the  bank  was,  because  two  or  three 
outsiders  dropped  in  to  see  the  clock.  When  we  went 
out  it  was  to  get  into  a  hired  buggy  and  drive  away,  and 
a  few  hours  later  we  were  bucking  the  tiger  in  Cincin- 
nati. I  always  felt  a  little  mean  over  that  job.  You  see 
the  cashier  was  a  young  squirt,  who  couldn't  have  held 
his  own  with  a  common  thief,  and  it  was  no  credit  for  us 
to  beat  him.  That  wasn't  the  last  time  I  saw  him, 
however.    Four  years  later,  while  I  was  taking  a  va- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


231 


cation  at  Joliet  for  carrying  off  some  diamonds  belonging 
to  a  Chicago  party,  they  put  a  new  man  at  work  beside 
nie  one  day.  He  was  a  puzzle  to  me  for  a  while,  but  by 
and  by  I  located  him  as  the  cashier  of  the  Dayton  bank. 
He  had  secured  a  place  in  Chicago  as  confidential  clerk 
to  a  manufacturing  concern,  and  had  gone  the  way  of 
many  others,  and  got  into  the  clutches  of  the  law. 
When  I  told  him  who  I  was,  he  had  nothing  but  praise 
for  the  clock  trick,  saying  that  he  did  not  miss  the  money 
until  the  bank  closed  for  the  day." 


CHAPTER  XIIL 


PRECINCTS  AND  STATION  HOUSES. 


First  Precinct. —Its  Boundaries. — "The  Heights.'* — Mercantile 
Palaces. — "Old"  and  "New"  Quarters. — Captain  James 
Campbell. — A  Quiet  Night. — The  Sergeants. — Efficient 
Officers. — Discouraging  Tramp  Lodgers. — "  Cheap  Lodgings." 
A    Warm-hearted   Sergeant.  —  Roundsmen  and  Detectives. 

Second  Precinct.  —  Its  Boundaries.  —  Dangerous  Locality.  — 
"The  Chain  Gang.*' — The  Station  House. — Noisome  Cells. — 
Probable  New  Headquarters. — Captain  John  W.  Eason. — A 
Veteran  of  the  War.— Many  Times  Wounded. — The  Sergeants. 
Money  Easily  Made. — Pinched  in  the  Neck. — Only  Vagrancy, 
— Roundsmen  and  Detectives. 


HE  First  Precinct  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Hudson 


Avenue  and  Neyins  Street,  on  the  south  by  At- 
lantic Avenue  to  Henry  and  State  Streets.  On  the 
west  it  is  bounded  by  Hicks  Street,  to  Grace  Court, 
which  also  forms  part  of  the  southern  boundary.  The 
western  limit  is  then  marked  by  Columbia  Heights,  as 
far  as  Orange  Street,  which,  with  Nassau  Street  forms 
the  northern  boundary  to  Hudson  Avenue.  It  includes 
a  large  part  of  the  millionaire  neighborhood  of  the 
Heights,  and  the  dry  goods  and  other  mercantile  palaces 
of  Fulton  Street.  Its  taxed  valuation  is  far  up  in  the 
millions.  With  the  Second  Precinct  it  contains  what  was  ^ 
once  the  town  of  Brooklyn,  and  before  that,  the  village 
of  ' '  Breuckelen. "  The  Station  House  on  Adams  street, 
near  Myrtle  Avenue,  occupies  the  whole  handsome  new 
Police  Court  House,  except  the  second  floor.    Before  the 


THE   FIRST  PRECINCT. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


233 


completion  of  this  edifice,  it  was  situated  for  many 
years  on  Washington  Street,  near  Fulton,  between  the 
Post-Office  and  the  Brooklyn  Theatre.  Its  roll  is  made 
up  of  the  captain,  four  sergeants,  two  roundsmen,  fifty 
patrolmen  and  two  doormen. 

The  commander  of  the  First  Precinct  Police  Station 
is  known  and  admired  by  almost  every  Brooklynite.  Cap- 
tain James  Campbell  is  a  man  slightly  above  the  average 
height,  broad  shouldered  and  finely  proportioned,  about 
fifty  years  of  age,  and  his  face  is  honest  and  handsome. 
He  wears  a  moustache,  which,  as  well  as  his  hair,  is  white. 
In  uniform  he  looks  the  model  type  of  the  police  official. 
He  entered  the  Pohce  Department  on  December  10th, 
1853,  and  was  assigned  to  patrol  duty  in  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Precinct,  under  the  old  Metropolitan  system. 
After  some  months,  at  his  own  request  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Eighth  Precinct  which  at  that  time  was 
considered  the  worst  in  the  city.  His  post  was  on  Greene 
Street,  where,  night  after  night,  the  thieves,  pickpockets, 
burglars  and  abandoned  women,  pursuing  their  low,  un- 
lawful vocation,  were  so  defiant  that  arrests  under  the 
most  dangerous  circumstances  grew  to  be  as  little 
thought  of  as  the  ordinary  '  *  drunk  "  of  the  present  time. 
The  captain  is  an  entertaining  conversationalist,  and 
when  not  engaged  in  his  official  duty  will  relate  stories 
of  crime  and  arrests  occurring  in  this  period  alongside  of 
which  Gaboriau's  tales  look  tame. 

The  captain,  living  in  Yorkville  at  the  time,  found  it 
a  long  jaunt  to  and  from  the  Eighth  Precinct,  so  was 
detailed  to  serve  in  the  Thirty-first  Precinct. 
His  first  night  on  post  was  probably  the  hardest 
ever  spent  during  his  police  service.    He  wandered 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


over  rocks  and  unpaved  streets,  without  meeting  a 
soul  from  midnight  until  six  in  the  morning.  Two 
goats  were  all  that  ever  disturbed  the  peaceful  quiet  of 
the  night,  which  happened  to  be  unusually  dark.  The 
contrast  to  his  former  nights  of  excitement  and 
danger  had  a  depressing  effect,  and  when  relieved  in  the 
morning  he  felt  worse  than  after  a  night  down  town  in 
the  thickest  of  several  fights. 

In  1867  he  requested  to  be  changed,  and  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Forty-first  Precinct,  which  is  now  the 
First  Precinct,  Brooklyn.  He  remained  there  a  little 
over  a  year,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Eighth 
(then  Forty-eighth)  Precinct,  Brooklyn,  and  promoted  to 
roundsman.  In  the  fall  of  1869  he  took  a  step  higher, 
being  made  Sergeant  and  assigned  to  the  Forty-fourth 
Precinct.  He  remained  in  the  Fourth  (old  Forty-fourth) 
Precinct  until  the  summer  of  1873,  when  he  was  appointed 
captain,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Tenth  Pre- 
cinct. In  1879  he  made  his  last  change  to  the  First  Pre- 
cinct, where  he  is  liable  to  stay  until  either  he  or  the 
Precinct  becomes  non  est. 

During  the  captain's  duty  in  Brooklyn  his  precincts 
have  been  in  the  elite  wards  of  the  city,  which  fact  con- 
sequently brings  the  number  of  crimes  committed  within 
his  jurisdiction  somewhat  below  the  average.  How- 
ever, without  going  into  details,  the  number  of  "  crooks,'' 
from  the  expert  burglar  to  the  petty  sneak  thief,  who 
choose  his  Precinct  wherein  to  push  their  operations  is 
exceedingly  small.  A  large  number  of  this  class  who 
tried  the  experiment  are  either  in  prison  or  evading  some 
other  police  captain,  having  served  their  time  and  learned 
a  lesson. 


Capt;iin. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


237 


Captain  Campbell  knows  tlieni  all,  nevertheless,  and 
makes  it  a  strong  point  in  his  routine  of  duty  to  drive 
them  off  the  streets  of  his  precinct,  thus  keeping  the 
possibility  of  crime  at  a  minimum. 

Sergeant  David  V.  W.  Lawson  was  born  forty-six 
years  ago.  He  is  about  medium  height  and  build,  and 
of  dark  complexion.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  patrol- 
man on  the  Police  force.  In  1873  he  was  promoted  to 
the  station  of  roundsman,  and  in  September,  1883,  stepped 
one  round  higher,  and  threw  away  the  patrolman's  uni- 
form to  wear  that  of  a  sergeant,  at  which  time  he  was 
detailed  to  the  First  Precinct,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. 

As  an  officer  he  is  conscientious  and  brave,  never 
shirking  or  trying  to  lighten  his  duty.  He  has  been 
the  hero  of  many  important  arrests,  which  went  a  long 
way  toward  ridding  the  community  of  dangerous  crimi- 
nals. 

Sergeant  Lawson,  in  speaking  to  the  writer  of  the  evils 
of  city  life  said  : 

''We  try  to  discourage  tramp  lodgers  as  much  as  we 
can.  We  find  that  it  fosters  drunkenness  to  give  the 
tramp  free  lodgings  this  time  of  the  year.  There  are  a 
lot  of  tramps  in  the  city  who  go  about  begging  in  the 
day  time.  Every  one  of  them  pick  up  enough  to  eat, 
and  a  few  nickels  here  and  there.  By  the  time  night 
comes  they  have  enough  money  to  buy  a  night's  lodging 
in  a  cheap  lodging  house,  but  they  prefer  to  spend  their 
cash  for  stale  beer  and  bad  whiskey.  When  they  are 
comfortably  loaded  they  go  to  the  station  houses  to  get 
free  lodgings.  A  regular  tram})  will  not  go  to  sleep  with 
money  in  his  pocket,  if  he  can  help  it.    In  cold  winter 


238 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


weather  I  hate  to  turn  tramps  away,  but  from  April  to 
October  it  doesn't  seem  to  hurt  them  to  sleep  in  trucks 
and  hallways.  Lately  I  have  adopted  a  plan  to  discour- 
age station  house  bums.  I  put  them  under  arrest,  and 
they  are  sent  to  the  work-house  or  penitentiary." 

At  this  point  the  door  opened,  and  a  youth  thinly  clad 
entered  to  ask  for  lodgings.  He  did  not  look  as  if  he 
had  been  drinking,  and  was  a  stranger  to  the  sergeant. 

I  have  been  looking  for  work,  and  haven't  got  enough 
money  for  a  bed,"  he  said. 

How  much  have  you  got  ?" 
^^Six  cents."    He  took  from  his  pocket  a  copy  of  the 
Sc^gley  a  nickel  and  a  cent. 
Did  you  buy  that  paper 

Yes.  I  have  just  been  to  answer  an  advertisement 
from  a  man  near  here,  but  the  place  was  already  filled. " 

He  pointed  out  to  the  sergeant  the  advertisement  for  an 
able-bodied  young  man,  wanted  at  a  place  not  far  away. 

"That  will  do,  we  will  give  you  as  good  lodgings  as 
we  have  in  the  house,  and  here  is  something  for  your 
breakfast." 

The  sergeant  added  a  silver  coin  to  the  stranger's  six 
cents,  and  sent  him  back  to  the  lodging-room.  Another 
man,  dirty  and  shabby,  had  slid  into  the  station,  and  was 
making  for  the  lodging-room,  too,  with  the  easy  self- 
consciousness  of  a  regular  lodger,  when  the  sergeant 
stopped  him. 

"  Hold  on  a  minute,  Johnny.  I  want  to  talk  to  you. 
Do  you  remember  promising  me,  when  you  were  here 
last  time,  that  you  would  stop  drinking  ?" 

''Did  stop — sever(hic)al  times,"  said  the  tramp. 

A  ring  of  the  bell  called  the  doorman  and  a  policeman 


BROOKLYX  S  GUARDIANS. 

in  uiiiforiii.  The  sergeant  wrote  down  the  tramp's 
name,  age,  nationality,  and  the  charge  '^intoxication," 
and  said,  ''  Lock  him  up." 

Turning  over  the  leaves  of  the  blotter,  the  sergeant 
said  :  "  That  makes  the  seventh  tramp  in  the  cells  to- 
night, and  it  isn't  ten  o'clock  yet." 

Sergeant  John  Barr  is  sixty-one  years  old,  and,  with 
one  or  two  exceptions,  has  seen  more  years  of  active  police 
duty  in  Brooklyn  than  any  of  his  associates.  He  was 
appointed  patrolman  in  the  summer  of  1852,  and  for 
thirteen  years  served  faithfully  in  that  capacity.  In 
ISO 5  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  roundsman,  and  on 
June  24th,  1871,  to  his  present  position  of  sergeant.  This 
veteran  of  the  force  is  much  respected  by  his  fellow- 
officers,  and  has  made  an  excellent  record. 

Sergeant  Henry  C.  Ballow  was  born  in  1843.  When 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  the  Sixty-third  New 
York  State  Volunteers.  He  went  to  the  front  as  a  private 
and  served  all  through  the  war.  He  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  first  sergeant  for  bravery.  In  1835  he  became  a 
patrolman.  In  18 73  he  was  made  roundsman,  and  in 
the  following  year  he  was  appointed  sergeant. 

He  has  always  been  an  officer  well-liked  by  his  asso- 
ciates, and,  aside  from  his  diligent  watch  for  law  break- 
ers, has  always  been  noted  for  assisting  poor  unfortunates, 
whether  financially  or  physically,  whom  lie  chanced  to 
meet. 

Sergeant  Anson  G.  Dodge  was  born  in  1818.  When 
only  fifteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  the  Fiftieth  Regi- 
ment New  York  Volunteers,  and  carried  a  musket 
through  the  war,  taking  pai*t  in  its  leading  battles. 
He  was   appointed  on  the  police  force  June  17th, 


240 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


1873,  and  assigned  to  duty  as  patrolman.  In  1881  he 
was  made  roundsman,  and  in  1884  sergeant.  Since 
his  appointment  he  has  enjoyed  an  unblemished  record. 

The  sergeant  is  very  well-informed  as  to  the  doings  of 
the  criminals  he  is  forever  locking  up,  and  now  and  then 
he  gives  his  friends  the  benefit  of  his  knowledge.  Speak- 
ing of  swindlers,  he  tells  the  following  quaint  story. 

' '  I  had  a  man  in  here  the  other  night  whom  I  recognized 
as  a  fellow  I  had  arrested  some  years  ago  and 
sent  up  for  till- tapping.  He  bore  an  air  of  dejection  as 
he  talked,  and  allowed  his  cigar  to  go  out.  He  was  such 
a  picture  of  dejection  I  could  not  help  asking,  '  What's 
the  trouble  ? ' 

Bad  enough, '  he  answered.  '  Our  best  man  has 
been  pinched  in  Connecticut,  and  has  just  got  twenty-five 
years  straight  in  the  neck.  Who  was  it  ?  Why,  John 
Palmer,  of  course.  He  was  one  of  the  great  artists  in  the 
profession,  and  has  made  thousands  and  thousands.  He 
wasn't  like  ordinary  crooks.  He  was  always  getting  up 
new  schemes.  He  invented  the  telegraph  racket,  and  it 
was  a  daisy.  Hqw  was  it  worked  ?  He'd  go  to  a  hotel 
in  Buffalo,  and  register  as  Charles  Adams,  of  New  York, 
and  flash  a  card  representing  some  manufacturing 
concern  in  the  city.  He'd  rush  around  and  sell,  or  try  to 
sell,  by  sample  or  by  an  advertising  book,  and  he'd  always 
bring  his  would-be  customers  to  the  hotel,  and  there 
treat  them  and  the  clerk.  He'd  tell  the  clerk  confiden- 
tially that  he  expected  some  money  telegraphed  on,  and 
to  notify  him  the  moment  the  telegram  came.  In  the 
afternoon  the  telegram  came  from  one  of  his  pals.  It  read : 

"Your  letter  received.  Mailed  you  certified  check  at  10 
o'clock." 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS.  241 

"  The  next  morning  the  letter  came  from  New  York, 
and  inside  was  a  certified  check.  Of  course  it  was  all 
forged,  and  very  well  forged.  He'd  show  it  up  to  the 
clerk,  and  then  walk  down  to  the  nearest  bank  to  cash  it. 
The  teller  refused  always,  until  John  was  identified. 
He'd  go  back  to  the  hotel  and  get  the  clerk  to  endorse  it, 
or  else  go  down  with  him  to  the  bank  to  identify  him. 
In  either  case  he  collared  the  cash  every  time.  He  caught 
on,  boss,  but  you  see  success  was  too  much  for  him.  He 
got  careless  in  his  biz,  and  then,  instead  of  sticking  to 
hotels  and  banks,  he  tried  to  work  the  Post  Office.  It 
breaks  me  all  up,  for  I  worked  the  racket  with  him. ' " 

The  Roundsmen  of  the  First  Precinct  are  John  J. 
Clancy  and  John  Dougherty.  The  Detectives  attached 
to  the  First  Precinct  are  James  J.  Roddy  and  Charles 
Chambers.  Both  are  excellent  officers,  who  commenced 
service  as  patrolmen,  and  graduated  from  the  ranks. 
Roddy  is  the  most  recent  detective  on  the  force,  having 
received  his  promotion  January  6th,  18S7.  Chambers 
served  with  distinction  during  the  war  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Seventy -third  New  York  Volunteers. 

THE   SECOND  PRECINCT. 

The  Second  Precinct  is  bounded  by  the  East  River  on 
the  west  and  north,  from  Wall  Street  Ferry  to  the  Navy 
Yard  wall.  On  the  east  by  Navy  Street,  and  on  the 
south  by  Nassau  and  Orange  Streets.  It  is  one  of  the 
worst  precincts  for  crime  in  the  city,  and  for  years  was 
infested  by  the  notorious  ''  Chain  Gang,"  which  was 
finally  broken  up  by  the  late  Captain  Crafts.  Along  the 
river  front  the  neighborhood  is,  in  most  part,  of  a  hard 
character,  especially  along  Freeman  street,  where  the 
sailors  congregate  and  fight.    Many  factories  are  con- 


242  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

taineJi  within  the  above  boundaries  which  offer  great 
inducements  for  robberies.  The  Station-House  is  a  three 
story  brick  building,  situated  on  the  corner  of  York  and 
Jay  streets.  The  cells  are  damp  ;  so  much  so,  that  for 
some  time  past  it  has  not  been  thought  humane  to  put 
prisoners  in  the  lower  tier.  The  house,  taken  as  a  whole, 
is  unworthy  the  city,  and  the  gallant  men  who  are 
compelled  to  use  it  as  a  home.  It  will,  before  long,  be 
condemned  by  the  authorities,  and  a  new  and  handsome 
structure  erected  in  its  stead. 

Captain  John  W.  Eason,  commanding  the  Second  Pre- 
cinct, was  born  in  New  York  City,  February  22d,  forty- 
three  years  ago,  and  came  to  Brooklyn  shortly  after- 
wards. On  April  18th,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Fourteenth 
Eegiment,  New  York,  as  private.  He  was  promoted 
July  8th,  1861,  to  Third  Corporal  of  Company  Gr,  and 
assigned  to  the  Color  Guard .  August  1st,  after  first  battle 
of  Bull  Kun,  made  First  Corporal.  He  was  made  Second 
Sergeant  January  1st,  1864,  and  took  part  in  every 
engagement  the  regiment  did,  except  two  days  during 
the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  was  wounded  at  the 
first  battle  of  Bull  Eun,  also  at  Antietam  and  Gettys- 
burg. He  was  honorably  discharged,  June  6th,  1864,  at 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  being  one  of  the 
remnant  of  the  gallant  regiment,  which  for  bravery  and 
fearlessness,  was  called  by  foes  The  Red-legged  Devils, " 
and  by  friends,     The  Fighting  Fourteenth." 

On  June  29th,  1864,  three  weeks  after  his  discharge,  he 
was  appointed  23atrolman  on  the  old  Metroj)olitan  Police 
force,  and  assigned  to  the  Forty-first  Precinct,  now  the 
First  Precinct,  Brooklyn.  In  May,  1870,  he  was  made 
acting-sergeant,  and  a  month  later  appointed  sergeant. 


JOHN  W.  EASON, 
Captain. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


245 


He  then  served  two  days  at  the  Fourth  Precinct,  and 
returned  to  the  First.  In  the  fah  of  1873  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Tenth  Precinct,  where  he  remained  until 
1875,  when  he  was  again  sent  back  to  the  First  Precinct. 
On  September  16th,  1881,  on  account  of  the  iUness  of 
Captain  Craft,  he  was  ordered  to  take  command  of  the 
Second  Precinct. 

Captain  Eason  has  always  been  connected  with  pre- 
cincts where  police  work  was  the  heaviest  in  the  city. 
He  is  as  model  a  captain  as  he  is  a  worthy  citizen. 
There  is  no  nonsense  about  him.  He  has  a  plain, 
straight-forward  way  of  talking  directly  to  the  point,  and 
the  meaning  of  what  he  says  is  never  obscure  or  conject- 
ural. He  is  direct,  clear,  terse  and  emphatic,  without 
being  rude,  brusque,  rough  or  ill-mannered.  He  has 
strong  sound  sense.  He  has  got  horse  sense,"  one  of 
his  friends  declares,  which  is  supposed  to  mean  the  most 
sensible  kind. 

He  never  flatters,  nor  palavers.  If  he  is  dissatisfied  he 
makes  it  plainly  manifest  in  an  outspoken  way,  without 
humiliating  or  causing  undue  embarrassment  to  the  vio- 
lator of  rules  or  orders.  He  believes  in  men  performing 
their  duties  faithfully  and  with  exactitude,  without  any 
attempt  at  evasion  or  skulking.  He  has  in  fact  a  whole- 
some dishke  of  eye-service,  and  cannot  tolerate  the  syco- 
phant or  toady.  He  has  a  manly  way  of  doing  things 
himself,  and  insists  on  others  acting  in  the  same  manner. 

This  influence,  so  far  from  conflicting  with  his  efficiency 
as  an  officer,  has  materially  aided  it,  as  it  is  the  result  of 
his  efforts  and  labors  in  protecting  and  maintaining  the 
rights  of  citizens  and  property -owners  against  criminals 
and  the  marauding  classes,  which  has  established  him 


246 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


firmly  in  tlie  confidence  and  affections  of  liis  fellow-citi- 
zens. 

Sergeant  Francis  A.  Earle  is  thirty-six  years  old,  weighs 
two  hundred  pounds,  and  a  better  natured  man  is  not 
included  in  the  list  of  police  officials  of  Brooklyn.  On 
May  13th,  1872,  he  was  appointed  a  patrolman.  He  was 
made  roundsman  January  3d,  1883,  and  arrived  at  the 
dignity  of  sergeant  May  10th,  the  following  year. 

He  makes  it  a  point  to  keep  on  good  terms  with  the 
criminals,  so  that  he  can  lay  his  hands  upon  them  when- 
ever wanted,  and  tells  many  odd  stories  of  their  ways 
.and  methods.  There  is  one  crook  I've  known  a  long 
time  "  says  the  sergeant,  ^  Vho  is  always  working  up  new 
schemes.    The  last  time  I  asked  him  what  he  was  up  to. 

'I  have  been  in  the  country  operating  in  real  estate,' 
was  his  ready  reply.  '  It's  a  good  biz,  but  no  more  of 
it  for  me. ' 

'  How  did  you  make  out  ? ' 

^  First  class.  Enough  to  get  my  stuff  out  of  hock, 
pay  my  rum  bills,  and  have  a  few  cases  left  over.  Let's 
have  a  snifter,  and  I'll  tell  you  the  scheme.' 

' '  The  drinks  having  been  ordered  and  disposed  of,  he 
continued  : 

^'  'I  went  down  to  Riverhead  as  Mr.  Smith,  a  real  es- 
tate agent  from  Morrisania.  In  a  couple  of  days  I'd 
made  a  list  of  all  the  property  there  was  for  sale,  and 
what  was  more  important,  of  all  the  farms  whose  owners  ^ 
didn't  live  in  Long  Island,  the  names  and  addresses  of  these 
owners  and  tenants.  I  picked  out  a  farm,  owned  in  New 
York,  that  was  worth  about  three  thousand  dollars.  I  then 
went  to  a  real-estate  broker  on  Third  Avenue,  and  offered 
him  the  property  for  one  thousand  dollars,  half  cash  down 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


2^7 


and  half  mortgage.  I  told  him  I  was  hard  up,  and  had  to 
have  the  money  in  a  week.  If  he  could  put  it  through  in 
that  time  he  could  have  the  joh  and  an  extra  commission 
of  seventy-five  dollars  ;  hut  if  he  couldn't,  I'd  try  the  man 
on  the  next  hlock,  who  had  heen  recommended  to  me  by  my 
friends.  Of  course  I  knew  they  were  rivals.  I  gave  him  the 
real  owner's  name,  and  one  of  my  hotel  addresses  on  the 
Bowery.  He  took  the  next  train  to  Riverhead,  and  of 
course  was  told  by  the  rustics  and  the  officials  that  the 
place  was  worth  two  thousand  dollars,  and  was  free  and 
clear,  and  that  the  owner  was  a  swell  city  chap  who 
hved  beyond  his  means,  and  seldom  or  never  came  down 
there.  He  came  back  perfectly  satisfied  and  got  some 
customer  to  put  up  the  cash.  I  signed  the  papers,  got 
my  five  hundred  dollars,  less  the  commission  and  his  fees 
for  searching,  and  opened  wine  for  them  both.  Do  you 
know,  the  customer  had  him  pinched  for  the  job,  and  he 
had  to  make  it  good. 

^  Well,  I  thought  I  had  a  picnic,  and  the  very  next 
day  I  started  a  second  trick  in  Queens  County. 

^  Ever}i^hing  ran  along  like  the  first,  till  the  broker 
went  down  to  Jamaica  to  make  his  search.  While  there, 
in  the  County  Clerk's  office,  he  ran  across  an  old  lawyer 
who  had  charge  of  the  farm  he  was  working  on.  The 
counsellor  tumbled  in  a  minute,  but  went  oft'  half 
cocked,  because  be  thought  the  broker  was  in  the  job. 
They  came  to  some  understanding,  however,  and  the 
next  morning  sent  a  sweet  letter  to  the  hotel,  and  a  fly 
cop  along  ^xii\\  it.  I  t^\agged  his  nibs  from  the  reading- 
room  back  of  the  bar  and  skipped.  If  you  go 
around  now  you  will  find  that  merry  note  in  the  pigeon 
hole,  and  the  pohce  mug  getting  weary  in  the  chair.  Still,  I 


248         '  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


ain't  much  alarmed.  I  saw  my  lawyer  on  the  way  up, 
and  he  said  as  long  as  I  hadn't  signed  anything,  or  got 
any  cash  out  of  a  bloke,  they  could  only  collar  me  for  a 
vagrant.  But  it  was  a  close  shave,  and  don't  you  forget 
it.    What  will  you  have  ? 

On  November  4:th,  1844,  Sergeant  Michael  McCarthy 
started  life.  When  the  War  of  the  Eebellion  broke  out 
he  enlisted  in  the  Fourteenth  New  York,  and  partici- 
pated in  many  battles. 

He  was  appointed  on  the  police  force  October  3d,  1871, 
and  detailed  as  patrolman.  In  December,  1885,  he  be- 
came a  sergeant. 

Sergeant  McCarthy  is  as  modest  as  he  is  brave,  and 
enjoys  equally  the  confidence  of  his  superiors  and  as- 
sociates. 

Slightly  above  the  average  height,  dark  complexioned, 
good-looking,  with  black  side  whiskers  and  mustache, 
Sergeant  Joseph  Carrougher  is  a  man  respected  by  all  the 
residents  of  the  Second  Precinct.    He  was  born  in  1840. 

On  March  6th,  186T,  he  was  appointed  patrolman,  and 
on  June  22d,  1872,  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
sergeant. 

Sergeant  J.  D.  Reeves  is  heavily  built,  and  slightly 
above  the  average  height.    He  was  born  in  June,  1837. 

In  1864  he  joined  the  police  force,  starting  as  a  patrol- 
man. He  was  made  roundsman  April  16th,  1861,  and 
sergeant  June  1st,  1883. 

Sergeant  Eeeves  has  always  enjoyed  an  unblemished 
record,  and  although  fourteen  years  on  the  Heights, 
where  crime  is  scarce,  he  has  made  many  good  arrests. 

The  roundsmen  of  the  Second  Precinct  are  Michael 
J.  Murphy  and  Thomas  F.  Hughes. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


211) 


The  detectives  attached  to  the  Second  Precinct  are 
Michael  Campbell  and  John  Kearney.  Campbell  is  one 
of  the  few  members  of  the  force  who  did  not  begin  with 
patrol  duty.  He  served  with  distinction  in  the  war  with 
the  One-hundred  and  Forty-eighth  Regiment  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  in  1872  entered  police  life  as  a  de- 
tective. Kearney  served  as  a  patrolman  from  1872  until 
1886,  when  he  was  promoted  to  his  present  position. 
Both  are  capable  officers,  much  esteemed  by  their 
associates. 


CHAPTER  XIV, 


Precincts  and  Station-Houses. 

{Continued.) 


Third  Precinct.— Boundaries.— Station-House.— Mean  Thie\t:s.— 
Prevalence  op  "  Drunks." — Captain  Patrick  H.  Leavey. — A 
Book  op  Horrors.— "  Billy  the  Kid."— The  Western  Code.— 
A  Deadly  Toy.— An  Uninterrupted  Supper.— No  Equal  with 
THE  Gun.— The  Sergeants.— The  Roundsmen  and  Detectives. 

Fourth  Precinct. — Station-House. — Boundaries. — Captain  Will- 
iam J.  McKelvey. — A  Brave  And  Intelligent  Officer. — The 
Terror  op  Jackson  Hollow. — Story  of  the  "Black  Bag.'' — 
The  Captain's  War  Record. — His  Connection  with  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic. — The  Sergeants. — Story  of  a  River 
Fight. — The  Roundsmen  and  Detectives. 

THE  THIRD  PRECINCT. 

The  Third  Precinct  is,  in  many  respects,  Hke  the  Sec- 
ond. Its  territory  encroaches  upon  a  portion  of  a  region 
in  which  crooks  of  the  worst  character  hold  sway, 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  many  blocks  of  handsome 
mansions  and  respectable  dwellings  are  found  along  its 
streets.  The  Station-House  is  situated  on  Butler  street, 
just  off  from  Court,  and  is  pleasantly  shaded  with  trees. 
It  is  well- equipped,  and  will  shortly  have  the  patrol-box 
system  in  working  order. 

The  Precinct  is  bounded,  commencing  at  the  corner  of 
Atlantic  Avenue  and  Nevins  Street,  south  through  Nevins 
Street  to  Butler  Street,  to  Gowanus  Canal,  to  Fifth 
Street,  to  Fourth  Place,  to  Cole  Street,  to  Hicks  Street, 
to  Sackett  Street,  to  Henry  Street,  to  Atlantic  Avenue 
east  to  Nevins  Street     For  many  years,  the  notorious 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


251 


Smoky  Hollow  was  included  in  this  precinct.  It  was 
a  district  equalling,  if  not  excelling,  the  Five  Points  " 
of  New  York  in  vice  and  depravity.  The  number  of 
crimes  planned  and  committed  by  its  desperate  inhabi- 
tants, whose  tales  will  never  find  tlieir  way  to  the  pub- 
lic's ears,  would,  if  related,  make  a  large  and  terrible 
volume.  Murder,  assaults  of  the  most  sickening  nature, 
heartless  torture  inflicted  upon  unfortunate  victims  not 
giving  up  all  in  their  possession,  even  to  the  shoes,  hat 
and  underclothes  the  moment  they  were  demanded,  and 
all  other  crimes  against  life  and  property  which  the 
vilest  of  men  and  women  can  devise  and  perpetrate, 
form  part  of  this  unwritten  record.  The  most  imagina- 
tive brain  cannot  invent  deeds  more  horrible  than  have 
been  nightly  committed  in    Smoky  Hollow." 

The  precinct  has  been  growing  better-behaved  and 
mo-re  decent,  and  is  to-day  in  admirable  police  condition. 
It  nevertheless  contains  an  immense  population  of  the 
very  poor,  in  which  intoxication  is  fearfully  prevalent, 
and  in  which  the  crimes  and  disorders  caused  by  drink 
take  place  with  unhappy  regularity. 

The  present  commander  of  the  Third  Precinct  has 
filled  that  difficult  position  in  the  most  acceptable  man- 
ner. 

Captain  Patrick  H.  Leavey  was  born  in  1813.  He  is 
powerfully  built,  dark  complexioned  and  handsome. 
Captain  Leavey  was  appointed  on  the  police  force  May 
7th,  1866,  and  detailed  as  patrolman  in  the  Fourth  Pre- 
cinct. He  was  transferred  to  the  Third  Precinct,  and 
made  roundsman  October  12th,  1869.  He  then  went  to 
the  Eleventh  Precinct,  and  was  transferred  back  to  the 
Third  Precinct  July  29th,  1870.    He  was  made  sergeant 


252 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


June  17th,  1871.  He  again  went  to  the  Eleventh  Pre- 
cinct, and  in  1872  was  assigned  as  acting  captain  of  the 
Ninth  Sub,  now  the  Fourteenth  Precinct.  In  1873  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Third  Precinct  as  sergeant,  and 
has  remained  there  ever  since.  He  was  made  captain  of 
the  Precinct  November  13th,  1876. 

He  weU  deserves  the  credit  bestowed  upon  him  for 
clearing  out  Smoky  Hollow."  The  stories  of  this  dis- 
trict, which  at  times  he  relates  in  his  interesting  way, 
would  easily  fill  a  book  and  hold  its  reader  in  its  perusal 
unto  ^^the  end."  He  has  made  a  good  share  of  the  ar- 
rests in  his  Precinct,  which  sends  more  prisoners  to  the 
police  courts  than  any  other  in  the  city. 

Captain  Leavey  indulges  in  a  pastime  worthy  of  Vidocq, 
Fouche,  and  the  other  great  thief -takers  of  the  world. 
He  keeps  a  huge  scrap-book  of  everything  that  appears 
in  type  regarding  the  crimes  and  criminals  of  Brooklyn 
and  New  York.  Well  indexed,  it  enables  the  reader  to 
pursue  the  history  of  any  crime,  or  the  career  of  a  law- 
breaker, from  its  start  to  the  dismal  end  which  always 
closes  wrong- doing.  ' '  The  history  of  malefactors, "  says 
the  captain,  is  somewhat  monstrous,  and  almost  always 
written  in  painful  colors.  A  few  reform  and  become  re- 
spectable. A  very  large  majority  die  from  the  diseases 
produced  by  excesses,  from  the  wearing- out  of  the  nerves, 
incident  to  their  career,  and  the  shocking  irregularity  of 
their  lives.  A  number  meet  death  in  brawls,  bar-room 
fights  and  open  encounters.  A  case  has  just  come 
under  my  notice.  The  man  was  'Billy'  Maloney  or 
'Billy  the  Kid.'  He  belonged  to  the  Smoky  Hollow 
gang,  and  though  neither  large  nor  muscular  was  one  of 
its  most  desperate  characters.    He  was  shrewd,  and  kept 


PATRICK  H.  LEAYEY, 
Captain. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


255 


himself  out  of  the  law's  clutches  for  some  time,  hut  at 
last  his  time  came,  and  a  Avarrant  was  issued  for  his  ar- 
rest on  some  serious  charge.  He  got  ^vind  of  it,  how- 
ever, and  left  the  city.  I  found  he  had  gone  West  and 
become  one  of  the  famous  desperadoes  of  that  section. 
He  was  killed  early  in  February,  but  I  did  not  hear  of  it 
until  lately.  The  man's  slayer  was  a  fellow  desperado 
known  as  Pat  Garrett.  It  occurred  in  some  mining 
camp  in  New  Mexico,  where  the  chief  attractions  are 
endless  gambling  and  drunkenness.  '  The  Kid '  was 
out  there  what  he  was  here,  a  '  holy  terror. '  He  was  a 
strange  thing  you  come  across  once  in  a  life-time,  and 
while  he  was  as  smooth  and  pleasant  a  little  fellow  as 
you  could  wish  to  associate  with,  he  filled  a  fellow  with 
a  sort  of  respect — I  think  that's  the  word,  although  its 
hardly  applicable  to  a  cut-throat.  He  was  like  a  snake 
shining  in  the  smi,  and  yet  his  touch  meant  death.  He 
was  slight  and  light-haired,  and  blue-eyed,  and  his  face 
was  sort  of  pale  ;  his  upper  teeth  stuck  out  a  little  bit, 
and  made  him  look  more  innocent  than  ever.  You 
somehow  ain't  afraid  of  a  fellow  whose  teeth  stick  out 
in  the  front.  It  suggests  childishness  more  than  any- 
thing else. 

He  didn't  weigh  much  more  than  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  pounds,  and  was  pleasant  in  his  manners  and 
address  ;  his  eyes  were  agreeable  till  he  got  mad,  and 
then  they  shot  fire. 

He  killed  two  men,  it  is  said,  and  did  the  job  up  in, 
what  they  call  out  West,  an  artistic  way.  They  never 
knew  what  had  happened,  he  was  so  quick  and  thorough 
in  his  use  of  a  revolver.  They  were  cow-boys,  and  they 
had  sworn  they'd  kih  the  Kid,  because  they  had  heard  so 


256 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


much  about  him  aud  his  prowess  with  the  knife  and 
pistol.  This  time,  at  least,  the  Kid  wasn't  to  blame.  He 
hadn't  killed  any  relatives  of  theirs,  which,  according  to 
the  Western  Code,  is  a  good  reason  for  murdering  a 
fellow  being,  or  assassinating  a  crowd  to  which  the 
offender  belongs.  They  do  things  differently  out  there 
from  what  they  do  in  the  City  of  Churches.  As  I  under- 
stand it,  there  was  quite  a  crowd  in  camp  when  the  Kid 
and  another  rode  up.  The  people  who  knew  him,  or 
knew  of  him,  were  not  over-glad  to  see  Billy,  because  he 
had  a  hard  name  ;  they  said  he'd  kill  a  man  if  he  did'nt 
happen  to  be  stuck  on  the  color  of  his  hair,  and  other 
pleasant  remarks  of  the  same  nature,  and  Maloney  was 
so  agreeable  and  so  generous  toward  one  and  all  of  those 
in  the  camp  that  they  might  have  thought  butter  would 
have  been  safe  in  his  mouth,  if  they  had  not  known  him  ; 
and  that  made  them  more  uneasy  than  ever,  though  there 
were  at  least  ten  men  all  armed,  and  only  two  against  them, 
the  Kid  and  the  fellow  with  him.  They  were  eating 
dinner  or  supper,  for  meals  out  there  are  very  much 
confused  in  their  character,  when  two  fellows  rode  up. 
The  Kid  had  seen  them  before,  but  he  never  moved  a 
muscle  in  recognition,  and  kept  on  eating  as  naturally  as 
if  there  was  not  a  soul  within  a  hundred  miles  that  was 
going  to  hurt  him.  When  the  strangers  got  near  enough 
to  see  the  faces  of  the  fellows  eating,  one  of  them  said  : 
'There  he  is,' and  without  saying  anything  more  they 
drew  their  weapons  and  fired  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
Everybody  broke  for  cover  in  some  way,  but  none  so 
lively  as  the  Kid  did  ;  he  sprang  six  or  eight  feet  into  the 
air  forward,  until  it  looked  as  if  he  was  hit,  because  fellows 
do  the  same  way  when  they  have  a  bullet  straight 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS. 


257 


through  the  heart ;  but  he  wasn't  touched.  The  fellow 
ou  horseback  paused  a  moment,  and  made  a  grievous 
mistake.  Maloney,  in  almost  a  twinkling  of  an  eye,  drew 
his  gun — one  of  the  prettiest  Winchesters  carried  in  those 
law-defying  districts — and  fired  twice.  It  was  a  bullet 
for  each  man,  and  he  brought  them  both,  each  one 
through  the  heart.  His  partner  sat  eating  his  supper  all 
the  time,  and  seemed  to  think  that  the  Kid  could  take 
care  of  himself,  and  needed  no  assistance  whatever. 

'^When  the  Brooklynite  had  finished  his  killing  and 
wiped  off  his  gun,  he  sat  down  and  finished  his  supper,  and 
then  rode  away.  As  he  and  his  pal  were  departing,  he 
reined  in  his  horse,  and  said  to  the  crowd,  who  stood  in 
silence,  'I'm  in  a  hurry,  or  I'd  help  you  bury  those  ducks.' 
They  never  found  out  who  the  dead  men  were,  and  buried 
them  then  and  there.  They  then  went  some  distance 
away  and  camped  for  the  night.  They  shared  an  odd 
superstition  against  sleeping  near  to  dead  men. 

"  Maloney  was  a  queer  lad  ;  never  thinking  of  aught 
except  killing.  The  only  thing  to  do,  therefore,  accord- 
ing to  Occidental  custom  and  usage,  was  to  kill  him.  It 
wasn't  any  use  to  put  him  in  jail,  for  he'd  break  out,  and 
the  feUows  who  put  him  there  would  have  to  hustle 
around  hvely  after  that  to  keep  out  of  his  way,  or  they 
would  be  apt  to  get  killed  in  short  order  when  he  struck 
them.  The  authorities  captured  him  more  than  once,  but 
he  always  managed  to  get  away,  and  each  time  he  killed 
somebody.  Once  he  killed  two  deputy  sheriffs  who  had 
him  in  charge,  by  taking  the  gun  of  one  of  them  away. 
There  wasn't  a  man  in  New  Mexico  who  could  shoot 
against  him  with  a  pistol  or  a  Winchester,  and  he  never 
missed. 


258 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


"  He  made  a  vow  to  kill  Garrett  at  sight,  which  was 
promptly  reported  to  the  latter.  He  did  the  wisest  thing 
under  the  circumstances,  and  lay  in  wait  patiently  on  the 
road  he  knew  his  enemy  must  come  by.  Then,  without 
warning,  he  shot  him  dead  with  the  first  bullet,  and  so 
ended  a  career  that  began  in  the  dives  of  Brooklyn  in  the 
year  when  dives  prospered,  and  which  made  Smoky  Hol- 
low a  familiar  name  to  the  police  of  the  country." 

Sergeant  Daniel  Ferry  is  forty-four  years  of  age. 
He  was  appointed  on  the  police  force  January  9th,  ISYl. 
He  was  made  roundsman  in  1873,  and  became  a  sergeant 
on  July  1st,  1881. 

His  work  has  always  been  in  the  roughest  parts  of 
the  city,  and  the  number  of  arrests  placed  to  his  credit 
is  very  large. 

Sergeant  Edwin  Deyer  was"  born  fifty  years  ago.  He 
is  light  complexioned,  tall  and  muscular.  He  received 
his  appointment  on  the  police  force  February  18th,  1863, 
and  was  detailed  as  patrolman.  In  18Y0  he  was  mccde 
sergeant. 

Asa  police  ofiicer  the  sergeant  has  done  much  good 
work,  and  has  a  first-class  record. 

Sergeant  Thomas  Walsh  is  thirty-nine  years  old.  He 
began  duty  on  the  force  as  a  patrolman  in  18Y1,  was 
made  a  roundsman  the  following  year,  and  received  his 
promotion  to  the  rank  of  sergeant  in  18Y6.  His  record 
is  a  most  excellent  one,  and  for  many  of  the  arrests  made 
by  him  he  has  been  complimented  by  the  Superintendent.' 

Sergeant  William  J.  Caddon  saw  light  in  1846,  and  be- 
came a  patrolman  in  1870.  His  entire  seventeen  years 
of  service  as  patrolman,  roundsman  and  sergeant  have 
been  spent  in  the  Third  Precinct,  with  the  exception  of 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


259 


one  month  in  tlie  year  1870.  Many  important  arrests 
are  placed  to  his  credit,  and  his  record  as  an  officer  is 
high  and  praiseworthy. 

The  roundsmen  attached  to  the  Third  Precinct  are 
John  Healy  and  Patrick  J.  Hawkins. 

The  detectives  attached  to  the  Third  Precinct  are  Ed- 
ward Rorke  and  Michael  Gray.  Both  are  men  in  the 
prime  of  life,  who  have  graduated  from  the  ranks  and 
have  earned  their  promotion.  The  archives  of  the  police 
bear  frequent  testimony  to  their  zealous  work  in  the 
cause  of  law  and  order. 

FOURTH  PRECINCT. 

One  of  the  pleasantest  precincts  in  Brooklyn  is  the 
Fourth.  It  covers  the  aristocratic  neighborhood  about 
CHnton  Avenue  and  Fort  Greene  Park,  and  contains  a 
mixed  population  of  the  best  and  worst  classes.  What 
disorderly  characters  are  arrested  within  its  confines  are 
taken  mainly  from  the  district  north  of  Myrtle  Avenue 
and  from  what  is  called  under  the  Hill."  The  station- 
house  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Myrtle  and  Vanderbilt 
Avenues,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  station-houses  in  the 
city  ;  it  is  a  three-story  brick  building,  with  an  extension 
for  the  cells  and  lodging-rooms.  Under  the  Metropolitan 
system  it  was  known  as  the  Forty-fourth  Precinct,  but 
under  the  original  Municipal  Police  and  since  the  reor- 
ganization which  followed  the  repeal  of  the  Metropohtan 
Act,  it  was,  and  ever  since  has  been,  known  as  the 
Fourth.  In  its  long  history  it  has  been  commanded  by 
many  of  the  best  men  upon  the  force.  Its  boundaries 
are  Hudson  Avenue  to  Franklin  Avenue,  and  Flushing 
Avenue  to  Fulton  Avenue. 


260 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


Captain  William  J.  McKelvey  of  this  precinct  is  one  of 
the  finest  looking  men  on  the  force.  He  is  stout  and  of 
medium  height.  He  was  born  on  the  12th  of  March, 
1842.  When  the  war  broke  out  Captain  McKelvey  was 
one  of  the  first  to  volunteer  as  a  soldier.  He  joined  the 
Tenth  New  York  Volunteers  (National  Zouaves),  with 
which  body  he  remained  two  years. 

The  captain  was  promoted  from  the  rank  of  a  private 
to  that  of  a  sergeant  at  Malvern  Hill,  but  when  the 
regiment  to  which  he  belonged  arrived  at  Philadelphia, 
it  was  disbanded,  and  Sergeant  McKelvey  was  among 
those  discharged.  He  returned  to  New  York,  and  at  once 
began  to  form  a  company  of  volunteers  of  which  he  in- 
tended to  take  command,  and  again  engage  in  the  conflict 
between  the  North  and  South.  The  government  was 
slow  in  furnishing  the  necessary  equipments,  and  while 
Sergeant  McKelvey  and  his  troupe  of  volunteers  were 
lying  idle  in  New  York  the  riots  broke  out.  The  soldiers 
offered  to  assist  the  police  in  putting  down  the  rioters, 
and  were  told  to  go  ahead.  The  sergeant  and  his  men 
were  in  the  hottest  of  the  affray,  and  did  a  wonderful 
amount  of  good  work.  When  the  angry  crowds  were 
finally  subdued  the  soldiers  led  the  triumphant  police 
force  in  the  march  through  the  streets  of  the  great  Me-' 
tropolis.  Thomas  C.  Acton,  then  President  of  the  Met- 
ropolitan Police  Force,  noticed  the  gallant  conduct  of 
Sergeant  McKelvey,  and  afterwards  offered  him  a  position 
on  the  police  force.  He  accepted  the  offer  and  became 
a  patrolman,  attached  to  the  Thirty -ninth  Precinct. 
Kemaining  one  year  in  this  district,  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Fifteenth  Precinct,  in  Mercer  street,  and  while 
there  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  roundsman.  In  1866 


! 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


263 


he  was  transferred  to  the  Twenty-seventh  Precinct,  and 
assigned  to  special  detective  duty  with  the  Board  of  Cot- 
ton Brokers.  He  did  good  work  in  this  direction. 
He  resigned  his  position  on  the  third  of  September,  1870, 
and  engaged  in  the  oil  business  in  West  Street,  New  York. 

In  the  winter  of  1872  a  fire  destroyed  all  of  Mr. 
McKelvey's  business,  and  he  came  to  Brooklyn  ;  and  in 
September  of  the  same  year  secured  a  position  on  the 
Brooklyn  Police  Force,  under  General  Jourdan.  He 
served  as  a  patrolman  of  the  Tenth  Precinct  for  four 
months,  when  he  secured  a  place  in  the  telegraph  depart- 
ment. In  this  position  of  telegraph  operator  the  captain 
served  until  ISSo,  when  he  was  made  drill  captain.  On 
the  17th  of  January,  1885,  Captain  Willmarth,  of  the 
Fourth  Precinct,  retired,  and  Captain  McKelvey  took  his 
place. 

In  IStU  Xew  York  City  was  aroused  to  great  excite- 
ment by  a  gang,  supposed  to  be  in  the  service  of  the  Con- 
federacy, carrying  black  bags  of  infected  clothing,  and 
of  combustibles  into  the  prominent  hotels.  In  many 
cases  the  inflammables  were  set  on  fire.  So  alarming 
did  this  danger  become  that  the  police  received  special 
instructions  to  search  all  suspicious  looking  bags.  Cap- 
tain McKelvey  at  that  time  was  a  patrolman  in  the 
Fifteenth  Precinct,  New  York.  On  February  1st,  1865, 
he  was  on  Amity  street.  About  one  o'clock,  in  the 
morning,  the  wind  became  so  piercing  that  the  young 
officer  sought  the  shelter  of  a  doorway.  While  stationed 
here,  concealed  from  view,  he  saw  a  young  man  turning 
the  corner.  In  his  hand  he  carried  a  ' '  black  bag, "  which 
seemed  well-filled.  The  sight  of  this  bag  aroused  the 
offlcer's  suspicions.    With  thoughts  of  promotion  and 


264 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


fame  in  his  mind,  McKelvey  stepped  from  the  doorway 
and  arrested  the  individual.    In  response  to  the  officer's 
what  are  you  doing  here  at  tiiis  hour  of  the  night,"  the 
suspected  man  coolly  replied: 

^' Aha,  an  officer!  how  you  frightened  me;  what  time 
is  it?" 

Without  deigning  any  reply  to  this,  McKelvey  asked 
what  was  in  the  black  bag,  to  which  the  young  fellow 
replied  that  it  contained  boots  and  shoes.  He  was  a  shoe- 
maker, he  added,  in  the  employ  of  his  brother,  who 
kept  one  store  in  Carmine  street  and  another  in  East 
Houston  street.  The  shoes  in  the  bag  he  had  been 
working  on  all  night,  he  said,  and  was  taking  them  to  the 
East  Houston  street  store,  as  they  were  promised  a 
customer  that  morning.  His  story  seemed  plausible 
enough,  but  remembering  the  strict  instructions  in  regard 
to  strangers  carrying  suspicious  looking  bags,  McKelvey 
told  the  stranger  he  would  have  to  accompany  him 
to  the  Station  House  in  Mercer  Street,  and  have  the  bag 
searched.    To  this  the  young  man  readily  agreed. 

Together  the  officer  and  prisoner  walked  down  Amity 
street  towards  Mercer,  the  stranger  holding  the  bag  in 
his  left  hand  which  was  the  side  nearest  the  offcer. 
When  they  had  gone  a  short  way  in  this  manner, 
the  stranger  suddenly  turned  around  and  dealt  the  officer 
a  terrific  blow  in  the  face  with  his  disengaged  hand, 
which  felled  McKelvey  to  the  street.  The  blow  was  sa 
sudden  and  unlooked  for  that  McKelvey  was  moment- 
arily taken  back.  In  a  second  the  officer  was  on  his 
feet,  and  in  hot  pursuit  of  his  man,  whom  he  could  see 
turning  a  distant  corner.  Not  stopping  to  pick  up  the 
bag,  which  the  stranger  dropped,  the  officer,  who  carried 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


265 


much  less  avoirdupois  then,  Avas  not  long  in  gaining  on 
his  man  ;  when  within  a  few  yards  of  him  the  fellow 
turned  around  and  fired  a  shot  from  his  revolver,  but 
luckily  missed  his  object.  Here  was  McKelvey  at  a  dis- 
advantage in  not  having  a  pistol  with  him.  In  this  man- 
ner the  pursuit  continued,  the  stranger  varying  the  mon- 
otony of  the  chase  every  now  and  then  by  turning 
around  and  blazing  away  at  his  target,  who  spent  most 
of  his  spare  time  in  dodging  the  flying  bullets.  McKel- 
vey made  several  attempts  to  rap  for  assistance,  but 
the  snow-covered  ground  gave  forth  no  response.  When 
Great  Jones  street  was  reached,  the  officer  spied  a  pile 
of  bricks  in  the  street  on  the  side  of  which  he  rapped, 
and  was  overjoyed  to  hear  responsive  signals  from  three 
of  his  comrades  in  as  many  different  directions.  When 
the  pursued  man  heard  these  signals,  and  observed  one 
of  the  officers  coming  towards  him,  he  again  turned  and 
fired  upon  his  pursuers.  This  shot  emptied  his  weai3on, 
and  he  ran  up  into  the  alley  in  Read  street,  where  the 
Berdell  murder  took  place.  McKelvey  knew  the  locality 
well,  and  it  at  once  flashed  through  his  mind  tliat  the 
gate  at  the  Bleecker  street  end  was  closed  and  con- 
sequently he  had  his  man  like  a  rat  in  a  trap.  At  this 
point  McKelvey  was  joined  by  six  other  officers  and  they 
all  followed  the  man  up  through  the  alley.  With  all  the 
chambers  of  his  revolver  discharged,  and  a  huge  gate 
cutting  off  escape,  the  fellow  threw  up  his  hands  and  sur- 
rendered. At  the  station  he  denied  all  knowledge  of 
the  black  bag,  and  said  that  he  had  not  carried  one. 
Here  was  a  nice  position  for  the  officer.  He  had  forgot- 
ten all  about  the  bag,  in  the  excitement  of  the  chase,  and 
without  it  his  charge  lacked  foundation.    Find  that  bag 


266 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


he  must,  so  he  started  out  over  the  same  ground  he  had 
gone  over  a  Uttle  while  since,  but  no  trace  of  the  bag 
could  he  find.  He  met  several  people,  but  no  one  had 
seen  the  bag.  As  he  neared  the  house  of  Engine  No  4, 
of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department,  on  Mercer  street, 
which  was  on  the  route  of  his  exciting  chase,  he  ob- 
served a  light  burning  in  the  rear  of  the  building.  This 
fact  struck  him  as  rather  unusual  at  the  small  hour  of 
the  morning,  and  he  approached  the  door  and  looked 
through  the  keyhole,  and  his  heart  gave  a  bound  as  he 
saw  three  of  the  firemen  examining  the  contents  of  a 
black  bag,  sufficiently  like  the  immediate  cause  of  the 
night's  adventure.  He  could  see  several  pairs  of  shoes 
in  their  hands,  and  it  occurred  to  him  at  once,  What  if 
that  fellow's  story  was  true  ? "  At  all  events  he  must 
gain  possession  of  that  black  bag.  McKelvey  knocked, 
and  after  considerable  waiting  one  of  the  firemen  opened 
the  door,  yawning  out  he  had  been  asleep,  and  invited 
the  officer  in  out  of  the  cold  to  'Svarm  up."  McKelvey 
said  he  had  not  come  to  ^^warm  up,"  but  to  get  that 
bag.  In  amazement  the  fireman  denied  all  knowledge 
of  the  article  mentioned,  but  the  officer  told  him  what 
he  had  seen  through  the  keyhole,  and  threatened  to  have 
a  posse  of  men  search  the  house  if  the  bag  was  not 
brought  out  immediately,  and  it  was  soon  forthcoming. 

It  contained  some  very  fine  boots  and  shoes.  Now 
the  next  thing  was  to  find  out  from  whom  the  shoes  had 
been  stolen ;  and  it  was  subsequently  found  that  the 
shoe  store  opposite  the  New  York  Hotel  had  been 
entered  that  night  from  the  rear  and  the  goods  stolen. 
Twenty-four  hours  after  Charles  English  had  com- 
mitted the  burglary  he  had  been  tried,  sentenced  to  ten 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


267 


years  imprisonment,  and  was  on  his  way  to  Sing  Sing- 
prison.  McKelvey  received  many  letters  of  thanks  for  his 
bravery,  although  he  had  not  yet  entirely  recovered  from 
the  disappointment  that  his  adventure  that  time  did 
not  result  in  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  a  Confederate 
spy  and  a    yellow  fever  distributor." 

Probably  among  no  other  body  of  men  are  the  small, 
button-like  badges  of  the  Grrand  Army  of  the  Republic 
more  thickly  distributed  than  among  the  Brooklyn  Police- 
men, and  for  years  it  had  been  the  privilege  of  police 
officers,  who  had  served  in  the  Civil  War,  to  obtain  leave 
of  absence  to  participate  in  the  Memorial  parades  in 
which  the  Grand  Army  Posts  took  part.  The  officers 
were  readily  released  from  duty  on  these  occasions,  until 
it  was  found  that,  instead  of  i3articipating  in  the  parade, 
they  abused  the  privilege  by  neglecting  the  procession — 
preferring  to  mingle  with  friends  among  the  sight-seers. 
In  view  of  this,  it  occurred  to  Captain  McKelvey  to  or- 
ganize a  regiment  of  the  veterans  among  the  Police 
Department,  and  he  accordingly  suggested  this  plan  to 
Gen.  Jourdan,  who  heartily  endorsed  it,  and  soon 
after  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  the  Metropolitan  Bri- 
gade was  organized,  with  Captain  McKelvey  as  its  com- 
mander. 

After  considerable  time  and  patience,  occupied  in 
organizing  and  perfecting  the  regiment.  Captain  McKel- 
vey succeeded  in  getting  together  a  company  of  men,  of 
whom  he  might  well  be  proud,  and  has  since  led  them  on 
all  occasions  in  which  the  Grand  Army  Posts  have  taken 
part.  At  the  time  of  the  funeral  of  that  illustrious  hero, 
Gen.  IT.  S.  Grant,  it  was  Captain  McKelvey's  Post  which 
was  stationed  at  the  sepulchre  at  Riverside,  to-  guard 


268 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


the  remains  of  the  famous  soldier,  whose  name  the  Post 
now  bears. 

At  first,  Captain  McKelvey  experienced  some  trouble 
in  getting  the  Historical  Society  to  lend  him  the  original 
colors  (One  Hundred  and  Seventy-third  New  York)  carried 
by  his  regiment,  but  now  the  Society  is  only  too  glad  to 
aid  the  gallant  Captain  in  such  a  patriotic  movement. 

The  two  men  who  carry  the  colors  in  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment Brigade  are  Geo.  Tallman,  of  the  Central  Office 
Squad,  and  Henry  Miller,  No.  1  of  the  Sixth  Precinct. 
They  carried  the  identical  colors  during  the  exciting 
.  times  of  the  battle  of  Port  Hudson,  and  the  Red  River 
campaign. 

In  speaking  of  Grand  Army  matters,  it  will  not  be 
amiss  to  state  that  the  present  captains  of  the  First, 
Second,  Fourth,  Sixth,  Eighth,  Tenth,  Twelfth,  Thir- 
teenth, Fifteenth  and  Sixth  Sub-Precincts  have  all  served 
their  country  in  the  late  war,  and  among  the  sergeants 
there  is  an  average  of  two  veterans  to  every  precinct 
in  the  city. 

Charles  Strong,  of  the  Fourth  Precinct,  was  born  in 
1829.  On  the  18th  of  May,  1865,  he  secured  an  appoint- 
ment as  patrolman  on  the  Metropolitan  Police  Force. 
He  did  good  work  during  his  service  in  the  ranks  and  on 
the  twentieth  of  June,  1872,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
office  of  sergeant. 

Sergeant  William  P.  Kelly  was  born  on  the  22nd  of  Jan-, 
uary,  1833.  On  July  20, 1861,  he  was  appointed  patrolman 
by  Commissioner  Thomas  C.  Acton,  of  the  Metropolitan 
Police.  After  serving  for  eight  years  in  New  York,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Brooklyn  branch.  On  June  30, 
1870,  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  sergeant,  and 


brooklym's  cuardiaks. 


269 


assigned  to  the  Fourth  Precinct,  July  iHtli,  1^71.  His 
record  is  excellent. 

Sergeant  Stephen  Martin  is  forty-two  years  of  age.  He 
became  a  patrolman  on  January  20th,  186$,  and  was, 
some  time  after,  on  July  16th,  1875,  appointed  a  sergeant. 
Sergeant  Martin  is  intimately  acquainted  with  the 
criminal  classes  of  both  Xew  York  and  Brooklyn,  and 
can  tell  many  thrilling  stories  of  their  deeds  and  misdeeds. 
In  speaking  of  crimes,  he  says  : 

I  notice  a  growing  decrease  in  the  amount  of  violence 
and  brutality.  The  sneak-thief  is  replacing  the  high- 
wayman and  burglar.  The  river-thief,  once  so  powerful 
an  element  in  crime,  is  now  almost  extinct.  Yet  in  my 
time  he  was  one  of  our  most  dangerous  foes.  On 
May  20th,  1873,  Joseph  Gayles,  alias  'Socco  the  Bracer,' 
'Bum'  Mahoney,  a  first-class  river-thief,  and  'Billy' 
Woods,  formerly  a  stone-cutter,  but  now  a  murderer 
and  expert  river-thief,  stole  a  boat,  and  with  muffled 
oars  pulled  down  stream  to  a  pier  on  the  East  Eiver. 
They  boarded  the  brig  '  Margaret, '  of  New  Orleans,  and, 
while  ransacking  the  captain's  trunk,  awakened  the 
captain  and  mate.  A  scuffle  ensued,  which  resulted  in 
the  thieves  leaving  the  brig  and  taking  to  their  boat.  An 
alarm  brought  officers  to  the  scene  of  the  attempted 
robbery.  It  was  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  sky 
was  overcast  and  not  a  star  to  be  seen.  As  one  of  the 
officers  flashed  his  dark  lantern  under  the  pier  he  saw  a 
boat  starting  out.  Throwing  the  rays  of  his  lantern  full 
upon  it,  three  men  stood  up,  revolvers  in.  hand,  and 
firing  began.  The  first  shot  gave  'Socco'  his  death  wound. 
The  officers  continued  firing  until  they  had  emptied  their 
pistols,  but  the  thieves  escaped  in  the  darkness  and  pulled 


270 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


up  toward  the  Long  Island  shore.  'Socco  the  Bracer,' 
fainted  from  the  loss  of  blood,  and  his  companions,  think- 
ing he  was  dead,  threw  him  overboard  to  lighten  the  boat. 
The  water  revived  him,  and  he  begged  piteously  to  be  taken 
into  the  boat  again.  Tliis  was  done  after  much  trouble, 
but  as  soon  as  he  touched  the  thwart  he  gasped  and 
died.  The  boat  was  again  stopped  in  mid-stream,  and 
the  lifeless  body  of  '  Socco  the  Bracer, '  with  the  tell-tale 
bullet  hole  through  the  breast,  was  thrown  to  the  waters, 
but  four  days  afterward  it  came  to  the  surface  at  the 
foot  of  Stanton  street,  within  sight  of  the  residence  of  the 
dead  r  iver- thief . 

"  Secrecy  was  no  longer  possible,  and  now  the  thieves 
themselves  admit  that  their  pal  was  killed  by  the  officer. 
After  this  robbery,  the  next  that  I  recall  was  that  of  the 
bark  'Zouma,'  on  the  East  River.  Louis  Engleman,  a 
Fourth  Ward  river- thief,  who  lived  at  No.  57  Rose  street. 
New  York,  w^as  convicted  of  the  theft.  He  was  captured 
by  Sergeant  Blair,  of  the  Second  Precinct,  after  a  chase 
of  three  hours,  during  which  he  jumped  overboard  ;  and 
while  hanging  on  to  the  rudder  of  a  three-masted 
schooner  at  anchor  was  throw^n  a  rope  by  a  policeman. 
^Go  to  h — 1  with  your  rope,'  he  exclaimed,  rejecting  it  ; 
you  shan't  take  me  alive. '  He  dove  under  vessels  and 
docks,  and  for  a  long  time  defied  half  a  dozen  officers  in 
boats,  but  he  was  at  length  captured  and  is  now  doing 
the  State  some  service  in  one  of  the  Sing  Sing  factories."  - 

Sergeant  Thomas  F.  Mande  was  born  on  the  eleventh 
of  December,  1859.  On  the  fourth  of  April,  1882,  he  v^as 
appointed  a  patrolman.  He  was  promoted  to  rounds- 
man December  5th,  1885,  and  on  the  eighth  of  January 
1887,  he  advanced  one  more  step  up  the  ladder  and  be- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


271 


came  a  sergeant  of  the  Fourth  Precinct.  Sergeant 
Mande  has  done  good  service  as  an  officer,  and  deserves 
all  the  honors  that  have  heen  bestowed  upon  him  by  the 
city. 

The  roundsmen  attached  to  the  Fourth  Precinct  are 
William  Knipe  and  George  W.  Raynor. 

The  detectives  of  the  Fourth  Precinct  are  Thomas 
Shaughnessy  and  Joseph  Price.  Shaughnessy  served 
with  distinction  as  a  soldier  through  the  great  war,  and 
joined  tlie  Police  Force  in  1868.  Price  is  also  a  veteran, 
not  of  the  army,  but  of  the  navy.  Both  are  officers  of 
merit,  and  are  held  in  high  esteem. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

PRECINCTS  AND  STATION  HOUSES. 

{Continued.) 

Fifth  Precinct. — Station  House. — Boundaries. — Captain  Cornelius 
WoGLOM.— "  The  Chief  of  Williamsburg."— His  Splendid  Rec- 
ord.—Sergeant  George  Bunce. — A  Veteran.— Riots  of  1863. — 
Other  Sergeants. — Roundsmen  and  Detectives. — A  Clergyman's 
Misplaced  Confidence. 

Sixth  Precinct. — Boundaries. — Station  House. — Features  op  the 
Precinct. — Captain  William  J.  Kaiser.— Soldier  and  Police- 
man.— Quick  Promotion. — A  Countryman's  War-Cry. — A  De- 
moralized Officer.— New  Use  for  a  Barrel.— The  Sergeants. 
— Detectives  and  Roundsmen. 

Sixth  Sub-Precinct. — Boundaries.— Station  House. — Commanding- 
Sergeant  Edmund  Brown. — His  War  Record. — A  Jeweler 
Burglarized. — Chasing  the  Thieves. —Sergeants  O'Reilly  and 
CoRwiN. — Both  War  Veterans. — Detective  Campbell. — The 
Roundsmen, 

THE  FIFTH  PRECINCT. 

At  the  corner  of  North  First  Street  and  Bedford  Avenue 
stands  a  three-story  brick  building  with  brown  stone 
trimmings,  where  the  guardians  of  the  peace  of  that 
portion  of  the  city  bounded  by  Babcock  Creek  on  the 
north,  River  Street  and  Kent  Avenue  on  the  east,  Broad- 
way on  the  south,  and  Hewes  Street  and  Union  Avenue 
on  the  west,  find  a  headquarters. 

Erected  in  1859  and  '60,  under  the  supervision  of 
Cornehus  Woglom — its  present  captain,  who  was  at  that 
time  a  boss  carpenter,  it  was  termed  by  Superintendent 
Kennedy,  then  the  chief  of  the  Metropohtan  PoHce, 
the  finest  pohce  station  in  the  city.    It  was  so  admirably 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


273 


constructed  that  the  authorities  in  Washington,  Phila- 
delphia and  Baltimore  requested  and  obtained  the  plans 
and  specifications  for  use  in  their  respective  cities. 

Off  the  main-room,  within  calling  distance  of  the  big 
desk,"  is  situated  a  small,  cosy  apartment  for  the 
captain. 

Ten  iron  grated  cells  are  located  on  the  ground  floor  of 
an  extension  to  the  main  building,  and  two  lodging- 
rooms  occupy  the  floor  above.  The  second  and  third 
floors  of  the  main  building  are  given  up  to  quarters  for 
the  patrolmen,  having  sleeping  accommodations  for  fifty 
officers. 

A  part  of  the  building  is  used  as  a  large  reading  room, 
where  all  the  daily  and  weekly  papers  are  on  file  for  the 
men. 

The  Fifth  Precinct  seems  to  be  a  favorite  camping 
ground  for  tramps  and  dissolute  characters  of  both  sexes 
and  seldom,  during  the  winter  months,  a  night  passes 
that  the  station  house  is  not  crowded  to  its  full  comple- 
ment. 

Captain  Cornelius  Woglom,  who  is  called  the  ''Chief 
of  Williamsburg,"  was  born  September  2ist,  1815.  He 
claims  with  some  degree  of  pride  to  have  earned  a  living 
almost  from  the  date  of  short-dresshood,  and  was  very 
young  apprenticed  to  a  carpenter  from  whom  he  gained 
a  mechanical  knowledge  which  gave  him  a  comfortable 
living  in  after  years. 

As  a  builder,  in  1S59  he  obtained  the  contract  to  erect 
the  Fifth  Precinct  Station  House,  and  during  its  construc- 
tion and  while  then  holding  the  office  of  alderman,  which 
he  filled  for  two  and  a  half  years,  in  a  spirit  of  devilment, 
at  the  railleries  of  a  friend  he  put  in  an  application  for  the 


274 


Brooklyn's  guaediaks. 


captaincy  of  the  new  Station-house.  With  no  civil  ser- 
vice competition  to  contend  with,  as  he  laughingly 
states,  and  in  fact  no  competitors  by  reason  of  the  in- 
fancy of  the  department,  he  was  overwhelmingly  success- 
ful, and  he  has  since  occupied  the  site  which  he  supposed 
he  was  putting  in  order  for  a  stranger. 

During  Captain  Woglom's  police  service  he  has  made 
many  important  arrests,  and  his  name  is  a  terror  to  the 
evil-doers  of  the  Fifth  Precinct.  The  captain  is  as  brave 
as  a  lion,  and  on  many  occasions  has  illustrated  his 
prowess.  That  section  of  the  city  in  which  his  Precinct 
is  located  was  at  one  time  the  headquarters  of  one  of  the 
worst  bands  of  roughs  that  ever  made  predatory  incur- 
sions upon  their  fellow-citizens.  They  would  congregate 
at  the  corners  in  some  of  the  worst  localities  and  defy 
the  police.  In  frequent  encounters  which  occurred  be- 
tween the  officers  and  the  roughs,  the  former  often  came 
off  second  best.  Captain  Woglom  determined  to  give 
them  a  lesson  which  they  would  not  forget.  Learning 
that  at  a  certain  time  a  large  number  would  be  congre- 
gated at  a  certain  locality,  he  posted  a  section  of  men  in 
hiding  in  the  vicinity,  and  then  ordered  one  of  the  pa- 
trolmen to  saunter  past  the  crowd  and  order  the  roughs 
to  disperse.  The  mob  replied  with  jeers  and  stones. 
The  officer  gave  a  preconcerted  signal,  and  before  they 
comprehended  what  had  taken  place  the  rowdies  found 
themselves  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  officers  with  the 
captain  at  their  head,  who  with  upraised  clubs  reit- 
erated the  patrolman's  demand  for  them  to  separate. 
A  desperate  fight  ensued,  in  which  the  police  showed  no 
quarter,  and  which  resulted  in  the  roughs  surrendering 
and  being  taken  to  the  police  station.  A  few  subsequent 


CORNELIUS  WOGLOM, 
Captain. 


^  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIAXS.  277 

meetings  of  a  hostile  character  took  place  between  them 
and  the  police,  but  the  encounter  virtually  broke  up  the 
the  gang. 

Captain  Woglom  is  a  man  who  labors  himself.  He 
does  not  entrust  the  management  of  precinct  affairs  to 
his  sergeants  and  roundsmen.  He  runs  his  own  station 
and  holds  himself  responsible  for  the  working  of  the 
force  under  his  command.  This  policy  produces  a  good 
effect  upon  the  men,  as  it  makes  them  partners  in  his 
successes.  Every  time  his  officers  make  good  arrests  or 
perform  faithful  work  he  lets  them  know  they  are  add- 
ing to  his  laurels  as  well  as  to  their  own  reputation,  and 
he  frankly  acknowledges  they  are  making  capital  for 
him. 

When,  on  the  other  hand,  he  finds  that  unjust  charges 
are  being  made  against  anyone  in  his  command,  he  will 
fight  before  the  Commissioner  for  the  accused.  Cap- 
tain AYoglom's  police  career  has  been  one  of  great  influ- 
ence and  has  been  characterized  throughout  by  energy 
and  hard  work.  He  has  protected  the  citizens  and  pun- 
ished offenders,  and  occupies  a  strong  place  in  the  af- 
fections of  the  police  force  as  well  as  of  the  people.  He 
is  a  thorough  pohceman  by  instinct  and  long  experience, 
and  it  would  be  an  unfortunate  day  for  the  police  of 
Brooklyn  when  he  should  separate  himself  from  them. 
In  the  seventies  he  resigned,  but  so  strong  a  public  pres- 
sure was  brouglit  upon  him  to  withdraw  it  that  he  com- 
plied. The  reconsideration  of  his  request  for  retirement 
was  hailed  by  all  classes  of  citizens  with  delight. 

Sergeant  George  Bimce  was  born  in  IS 32.  He  was 
appointed  a  patrolman  in  January,  1S5S.  In  1S62  he 
was  appointed  acting  sergeant  and  was  aftex'wards  coix- 


278 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


firmed  in  that  rank.  The  nearly  thirty  years  of  service 
seen  by  Sergeant  Bunce  make  him  one  of  the  veterans 
of  the  force.  His  stories  of  the  past  are  full  of  interest, 
and  he  recounts  with  special  delight  his  experience  in 
1863,  when  he  was  a  member  of  the  old  Metropolitan 
Police  and  attached  to  the  Forty-sixth  Precinct,  now 
the  Sixth  Precinct,  Brooklyn. 

Word  was  sent  over  the  wires  that  help  was  needed  to 
quell  the  rioters  at  the  Tribune  Building.  In  response  to 
this  call  that  brave  and  fearless  officer.  Superintendent 
Folk,  with  twenty  picked  men,  among  whom  was  Cap- 
tain Woglom's  right-hand  man.  Sergeant  Geo. 
Bunce,  left  Brooklyn  for  Police  Headquarters  in 
Mulberry  street.  When  they  arrived  there  they  were 
ordered  to  proceed  to  the  City  Hall  Park  and  form  a  semi- 
circle around  the  park.  The  New  York  men  then  drove 
the  mob  from  the  Tribune  Building  into  the  arms  of 
their  Brooklyn  comrades,  when  a  hand  to  hand  conflict 
ensued,  resulting  in  a  prompt  and  decisive  victory  for  the 
police.  In  this  conflict  Sergeant  Bunce  distinguished 
himself  as  worthy  of  such  a  leader  as  Superintendent 
Folk.  He  was  again  under  this  officer  in  quelling  the 
mutiny  of  Gen.  Spinola's  soldiers  in  1863,  while  stationed 
at  East  New  York. 

For  years  it  was  a  standing  joke  of  the  newspaper 
men  to  look  out  for  important  events  when  Sergeant 
Bunce  had  the  desk,"  as  there  was  scarcely  a  murder 
or  burglary  case  of  any  note  that  came  in  unless  Ser- 
geant Bunce  had  command  at  the  time. 

Sergeant  Jas.  L.  Hallett  was  born  May  9,  184:6.  He 
was  appointed  patrolman  in  1872  and  acquitted  himself 
so  well  that  a  vacancy  occurring  one  year  after  his  con- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


279 


nection  with  the  force  he  was  made  sergeant,  which 
post  he  has  filled  ever  since.  Fourteen  of  his  fifteen 
years'  service  have  been  spent  as  the  able  assistant  of 
the  Fifth  Precinct  Captain. 

Sergeant  John  Reardon,  another  of  Captain  Woglom's 
lieutenants;  saw  light  in  1845.  At  the  age  of  twenty -two 
he  obtained  an  appointment  as  a  Brooklyn  patrolman,  in 
December,  1867.  After  ten  years' service,  on  January  12th, 
1877,  he  cHmbedastep  up  the  ladder  of  fame  to  a  rounds- 
man's cap  and  was  fortunate  enough,  five  days  later,  to 
receive  a  sergeant's  commission. 

Sergeant  Reardon  has  the  entire  confidence  of  his  cap- 
tain, and  his  judgment  is  always  relied  upon  in  making 
important  arrests. 

Sergeant  Wm.  J.  Berford  was  born  in  1837.  His  ser- 
vice on  the  police  force  dates  from  January  7,  1867,  as  a 
patrolman.  He  received  his  first  promotion  in  May, 
1874,  when  he  donned  a  roundsman's  uniform  and  five 
years  later  received  a  sergeant's  badge. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  Sergeant  Berford  was 
one  of  the  first  to  offer  himself  in  the  country's  service, 
and  distinguished  himself  as  a  man  of  nerve  and  judg- 
ment. 

The  roundsmen  of  the  Fifth  Precinct  are  John  J. 
O'Brien  and  Thomas  F.  Lynch. 

The  detectives  attached  to  it  are  John  C.  Corcorane 
and  Martin  Short,  both  shrewd  and  excellent  officers. 

Detective  Short  teUs  many  capital  stories  of  criminals' 
wiles.  One  of  them  involves  a  clergyman,  who  was 
caught  on  the  pocket-book  game,  and  is  worth  repeating 
as  the  reverend  gentleman  told  it  to  the  officer. 

'^I  was  crossing  the  street  from  the  Fulton  Ferry,  and 


280  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

as  I  stepped  upon  the  walk  I  felt  some  one  pinch  my 
leg.  I  turned  and  beheld  a  respectable  looking,  well- 
dressed  man,  wearing  a  black  hat  with  a  wide  band  of 
crape  around  it.  He  stood  sidcAvays  to  me,  and  I  per- 
ceived that  he  had  a  large  pocket-book  in  his  hand  and 
was  about  to  open  it ;  in  an  instant  I  had  felt  in  all  my 
pockets  to  see  if  the  book  w^as  mine.  At  the  same  time 
the  man  said  to  me  : 

^'  ^If  it  had  not  been  for  me,  sir,  you  would  have  lost  a 
large  amount  of  money.  I  saw  you  drop  it  as  you 
stepped  upon  the  walk,  and  hastened  to  hand  it  to  you. ' 
.  ' '  I  assured  the  obliging  fellow  that  the  money  did  not 
belong  to  me,  and  that  it  must  have  been  the  party 
ahead  of  me. 

'Well,'  said  he,  'if  that  be  the  case,  let  us  open  it; 
perhaps  the  owner's  name  is  on  the  inside. ' 

' '  He  opened  it,  and  as  he  did  so,  I  saw  a  large  package 
of  bills.    The  outside  one  was  a  hundred-dollar  note. 

I  also  saw  several  others,  but  could  not  tell  their  de- 
nomination. In  the  meantime  the  fellow  with  the 
crape  on  his  hat  had  been  pretending  to  count  the 
money,  and  had  partly  turned  his  back  ;  soon  he  turned 
to  me  and  said  : 

' '  ^  Alas,  dear  sir,  I  can  find  no  clue  to  the  owner,  but 
after  counting  the  money  and  finding  over  two  thous- 
and dollars,  I  am  convinced  there  will  be  a  reward  of  at 
least  three  hundred  dollars.  Now,  my  dear  sir,  I  cannot 
remain  to  claim  the  reward  ;  my  relations  all  live  in 
Buffalo,  and  it  is  scarcely  tivo  hours  since  I  received  a 
letter  from  a  dear  sister,  saying  that  our  dear  old  father 
was  at  the  point  of  death. ' 

^'Here  his  voice  was  broken  with  emotion. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


281 


'  I  am  a  poor  man, '  he  continued,  '  and  shall  have  to 
borrow  the  money  to  i)ay  my  fare.  Now,  my  dear  sir, 
if  you  will  kindly  take  this  pocket-book  and  let  me  have 
a  hundred  dollars  you  will  be  richly  paid  by  the  owner 
when  you  restore  it  to  him. ' 

^'I  thought  the  offer  was  fair  enough  and  suggested  that 
he  take  a  hundred  dollar  note  that  I  saw  wrapped  on  the 
outside  of  the  roll. 

^ Not  for  the  world,  '  he  said,  'not  for  the  world.' 
And  putting  his  hand  upon  his  breast,  said  :  '  Stranger, 
I  am  poor,  but  I  am  honest. ' 

''I  was  ashamed,  and  without  hesitation  put  my  hand 
into  my  pocket  and  gave  the  honest  fellow  two  fifty-dol- 
lar bills. 

He  took  it  quickly,  shook  hands  and  disappeared. 
^^I  am  in  the  habit  of  stopping  at  the  Pierrepont  House 
when  I  am  in  the  city.  When  I  reached  my  room  I  had 
the  curiosity  to  look  at  my  prize  to  see  how  much  I 
really  had.  When  I  opened  it  I  found  a  counterfeit 
one  hundred  dollar  bill  on  the  Beverly  Bank  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  the  rest  were  show  bills,  etc.,  and  a  few 
leaves  from  the  diary  of  a  physician.  I  was  thunder- 
struck, not  so  much  on  account  of  the  loss  of  the  hun- 
dred dollars  as  I  was  at  the  depravity  of  the  man." 

THE  SIXTH  PRECINCT. 

The  Sixth  Precinct  covers  that  portion  of  the  City  of 
Brooklyn  known  as  ''  Dutch  Town,"  probably  the  most 
notable  district  in  the  country  for  elopements,  breach-of - 
promise  cases,  divorces,  lover's  quarrels  and  picnics.  In 
fact  it  is  a  perfect  paradise  for  gossips. 

The  Precinct  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  North  Second 
Street,  Metropolitan  Avenue  and  Newtown  Creek.  Onth^ 


282 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


East  by  the  City  Line.  South  by  Jefferson  Street,  Irving 
Avenue,  Flushing  Avenue,  Bushwick  Avenue,  Varret 
Street,  Graham  Avenue,  Seigel  Street,  Leonard  Street, 
Boerum  Street  and  Broadway  ;  and  on  the  West  by  Hewes 
Street  and  Union  Avenue.  The  Station-house  is  located 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  Stagg  Street  and  Bushwich 
Avenue. 

The  inhabitants  are  chiefly  engaged  in  the  tailoring 
business,  while  a  number  of  breweries  give  employment 
to  hundreds  of  men  and  boys.  The  children  of  the  poor- 
er classes  are  all  compelled  to  work  while  very  young. 

There  are  two  districts,  called     Picklesville  "  and  the 

Swamp,"  which  if  not  constantly  patrolled  by  efficient 
policemen  would  be  the  daily  scene  of  crime. 

St.  Catherine's  Hospital  is  situated  on  Bushwick 
Avenue,  two  blocks  from  the  Station-house,  while  the 
Thirty-second  Eegiment  Armory  occupies  the  northwest 
corner  of  Stagg  Street  and  Bushwick  Avenue.  The  popula- 
tion is  almost  entirely  foreign — the  bulk  of  it  being  Ger- 
man.   There  are  also  a  large  number  of  ^^Polaks"  and 

Slovaks"  (Polish  and  Russian  Jews),  Austrians,  Bohemi 
ans  and  Hungarians.  In  some  districts  German  and  bas 
tard  Teutonic  dialects  are  the  only  languages  heard. 

Captain  William  J.  Kaiser,  commanderof  the  Precinct, 
is  over  six  feet  in  height  and  built  in  proportion.  He  is 
a  dark-complexioned,  fine -looking  officer,  who  has  made 
a  reputation  as  an  efficient  policeman  second  to  none. 

He  was  born  April  27th,  18^2.  When  the  war  broke'^ 
out  he  enlisted  in  the  49th  New  York  Volunteers  and 
carried  a  musket  through  the  entire  rebellion  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  took  part  in  every  engage- 
ment with  the  Sixth  Army  Corps,  notwithstanding  the 


WILLIAM  J,  KAISER, 
Captain. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


286 


fact  that  he  received  three  wounds.  A  bullet  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Winchester  pierced  his  hip  so  seriously  that  he 
was  carried  to  the  rear  and  placed  under  the  care  of  the 
surgeons.  Before  twelve  hours  had  passed,  he  secured 
a  horse  and  caught  up  witli  his  regiment  in  time  to  help 
fight  the  battle  of  Fisher's  Hill.  Previous  to  this  engage- 
ment he  had  been  made  second  lieutenant,  and  when 
wounded  he  was  acting  adjutant.  He  was  made  first 
lieutenant  for  bravery  on  March  1st,  ISOi,  and  on  March 
1st  of  the  following  year  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Captain  for  his  gallant  services  in  the  battles  before  Pet- 
ersburg. On  June  7th,  18 04,  he  was  mustered  out  of 
service. 

He  was  appointed  a  patrolman  on  the  Metropolitan 
Police  Force,  June  25th,  1866,  and  assigned  to  duty  in 
the  Forty -ninth,  now  the  Ninth  Precinct.  In  June, 
1867,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Fourth  Precinct,  and 
two  years  later  was  sent  to  the  Fifth  Precinct.  In 
May,  1870,  he  was  made  sergeant,  stepping  completely 
over  the  heads  of  the  roundsmen,  which  is  a  promotion 
seldom  made.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  Sixth  Precinct, 
where  he  remained  until  1876.  He  was  made  captain  in 
August,  1873,  and  commanded  the  Sixth  Precinct  until 
his  transfer  to  the  Twelfth  three  years  later.  In  1878 
he  was  again  transferred,  this  time  to  the  Thirteenth, 
where  he  remained  until  his  last  move  to  the  Sixth  Pre- 
cinct, in  1880. 

The  districts  in  which  Captain  Kaiser  has  done  duty 
are  to  a  great  extent  "crime  producers,'' and  require 
unceasing  vigilance  in  protecting  the  inhabitants  and 
their  property. 

As  a  patrolman.  Captain  Kaiser  was  constantly  ferret- 


286 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


ing  out  persons  of  doubtful  character.  In  many  cases 
he  unmasked  criminals  who  were  living  double  lives 
and  stealing  systematically  from  friends  and  immediate 
neighbors.  Asa  commander,  he  has  always  grappled 
with  the  vices  of  his  Precinct  in  a  manner  which  has 
done  much  toward  the  extinction  of  crime.  His  men 
are  all  contented  and  willingly  work  hard,  a  sure  sign 
that  he  is  a  capable  commander. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  a  big  burly  countryman  in  the 
city,  his  usual  war-cry  is: 

I  must  do  up  a  policeman — this  time,  sure." 

There  is  a  good  story  told  by  Captain  Kaiser  in  which 
a  policeman  was  ^'  badly  done  up,"  that  is  well  worth  re- 
peating: 

John  Jackson  is  an  athlete  and  the  terror  of  his  town. 
Early  one  morning,  v^th  two  congenial  and  noisy  friends, 
he  paraded  Fulton  street.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  Court 
House  they  began  singing.  '  Same  Old  Game, '  '  He's  a 
Jolly  Good  Fellow,'  'Bingo  Farm'  and  other  familiar 
airs  were  reeled  off  rapidly.  Their  discordant  tones 
grated  upon  the  ears  of  a  police  officer,  who  suddenly 
darted  from  a  deep  shadow  and  ordered  the  party  to 
button  up  their  mouths. 

' '  John  was  speechless  with  rage  for  an  instant,  but  he 
soon  recovered  his  voice  and  begaij  to  abuse  the  brass- 
buttoned  minion  of  the  law.  The  officer  threatened  to 
run  the  entire  party  in.  John  defied  him,  and  concluded^ 
by  alluding  to  the  blue  coat  as  ah  '  eight  hundred  dollar 
man.'  Instantly  the  eight  hundred  dollar  man's  fist  shot 
out  and  marred  the  beauty  of  John's  left  eye.  He  didn't 
have  a  chance  to  land  another  blow.  John  flew  at  him 
like  a  lion  panting  for  gore. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


287 


Before  the  officer  could  interpose  a  single  objection 
John  had  seized,  upset  and  stood  him  on  his  head.  In 
that  undignified  position  he  was  held  with  his  pride 
oozing  from  his  ears,  until  most  of  .his  small  change,  a 
revolver  and  a  bunch  of  keys  dropped  from  his  pockets 
upon  the  sidewalk. 

This  done,  John  lifted  up  his  victim,  plunged  him 
head  first  into  an  empty  barrel  at  the  curbstone,  and 
brandishing  the  vanquished  man's  night  stick  over  his 
head  vanished  with  his  companions  around  the  corner. 

Sergeant  John  W.  Warmell  was  born  just  fifty  years 
ago.  On  September  2Tth,  1866,  he  was  appointed  on  the 
poKce  force  and  assigned  to  duty  as  patrolman.  After 
serving  in  this  capacity  three  years  and  a  half  he  was 
appointed  roundsman.    In  1875  he  was  made  sergeant. 

Sergeant  William  H.  Kitzer  was  born  in  1874.  He 
became  connected  with  the  pohce  force  on  December  9th, 
1874,  and  was  detailed  as  patrolman.  He  was  made 
roundsman  in  February,  1878,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
until  May  8th  the  following  year,  when  he  was  appointed 
sergeant. 

The  sergeant  has  always  proved  himself  an  efficient 
officer  and  has  made  many  good  arrests.  He  is  a  typical 
German  in  appearence. 

Sergeant  James  G.  DeBevoise  is  a  large  and  powerful 
man.  He  was  appointed  on  the  Brooklyn  police  force 
July  5th,  1865,  and  made  sergeant  in  May,  1879.  He 
was  born  quite  a  number  of  years  previous  to  the  time 
he  received  his  '^buttons."  He  is  said  to  have  quite  a 
record  for  arrests  of  various  natures. 

Beside  being  a  police  officer  with  a  good  record.  Ser- 
geant John  A.  Sutton  has  to  his  credit  a  great  amount 


288 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


of  good  work  as  a  soldier  in  the  late  War  of  the  Ee- 
belhon.     He  was  born  in  1843. 

When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  one  of  the  first  to 
enlist  in  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  New  York  Volun- 
teers, and  until  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Rappahannock 
Station  fought  in  every  engagement  with  his  regiment. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  the  September  following, 
re-enlisted  in  the  Eighty-fourth  Regiment  New  York 
Volunteers  and  was  finally  discharged  with  the  rank  of 
first  lieutenant  in  October,  1864. 

On  March  1st,  1865,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  as  patrol- 
man. In  1869  he  was  made  roundsman,  and  afterwards 
received  his  promotion  as  sergeant. 

As  an  officer  the  sergeant  has  always  been  conspicu- 
ous for  his  attention  to  duty. 

The  detectives  attached  to  the  Sixth  Precinct  are  Jos- 
eph Lyons  and  William  Ihne.  Lyons  served  his  country 
during  the  war  in  the  Fifth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery, 
and  displayed  the  same  bravery  and  zeal  that  disting- 
uish him  as  a  poHce  officer.  Ihne  has  a  fine  record  as 
a  detective  and  has  been  connected  with  many  import- 
ant cases. 

The  roundsmen  attached  to  the  Precinct  are  James 
Green,  an  old  war  veteran  and  an  excellent  officer,  and 
Wm.  Weiser,  also  a  good  officer. 

THE  SIXTH  SUB-PRECINCT. 

The  Sixth  Sub-Precinct  is  made  up  of  a  portion  of 
the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Precincts.  It  is  one  of  the 
roughest  portions  of  Brooklyn,  and  boasts  of  no  wealthy 
streets.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Van  Cott  avenue 
and  Meeker  Avenue.    On  the  east  by  Newtown  Creek. 


EDMUND  BKOWN, 
Sergeant. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


291 


On  the  south  hy  Metropohtan  Avenue  and  North 
Second  Street,  and  on  the  West  by  Union  Avenue.  It 
contains  that  portion  of  Brooklyn  known  as  '  'The  Green," 
which  for  years  was  nightly  the  scene  of  the  most  daring 
robberies,  obscene  adventures  and  attempts  at  murder. 
The  Precinct  has  only  been  in  existence  since  October  12th, 
1885,  since  which  time  over  one  thousand  arrests  have 
been  made  and  the  greater  part  of  the  lawlessness  sup- 
pressed. 

The  Station  House  is  on  Graham  Avenue,  between 
Frost  and  Richardson  streets. 

The  commander  of  the  Sixth  Sub -Precinct,  Sergeant 
Edmund  Brown,  is  stout,  handsome  and  good-natured. 
He  was  born  in  183T.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  enlisted 
in  Ellsworth's  Zouaves,  and  served  for  eight  months,  fight- 
ing in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  was  then  stationed 
with  his  regiment  at  Newport  News.  He  was  finally  hon- 
orably discharged  in  1861.  On  December  28th,  1861:,  he 
was  appointed  a  patrolman  at  the  Forty-fifth,  now  the 
Fifth  Precinct  and  served  there  five  years,  ^A^hen  he  re- 
signed and  went  to  work  in  the  Water  Department  of 
the  Board  of  City  Works.  On  April  30th,  1887,  he  was 
reappointed  on  the  police  force  and  assigned  to  the  Fifth 
Precinct  as  patrolman.  By  successfully  passing  the 
Civil  Service  examination,  he  was  appointed  sergeant 
June  23d,  1881:,  and  sent  to  the  Seventh  Precinct,  where 
he  remained  until  October  12th,  1885,  when  he  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  Sixth  Sub-Precinct,  where  he  has 
since  remained. 

Jacob  Morch,  a  jeweller,  had  just  removed  into  new 
quarters.  Patrolman  Brown  was  walking  along  Broad- 
way one  April  morning,  near  Morch's  new  store,  when 


292 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


he  discovered  that  something  was  wrong.  Upon  investi- 
gation he  found  that  three  thieves  had  just  entered  the 
store  by  a  rear  entrance  and  were  working  at  a  safe 
which  contained  $70,000  worth  of  diamonds.  When 
they  saw  the  officer  they  dropped  everything,  and  made 
their  escape  by  jumping  through  the  large  plate  glass 
show  window.  He  followed,  but  the  thieves  got  a  slight 
lead  on  him,  and  down  Broadway  they  sped  like  the 
wind  ;  but  the  worthy  officer,  not  to  be  out-done  by  any 
common  burglars,  succeeded  in  capturing  one,  Edward 
Jacques,  alias  LeRoy,  who  turned  out  to  be  a  notorious 
burglar,  wanted  on  several  charges  in  the  West.  He 
was  placed  under  $1,000  bonds  for  trial,  which  he 
covered  with  cash  and  left  for  parts  unknown.  He  was 
captured  a  short  time  afterwards  in  Philadelphia  and  is 
now  serving  a  term  of  years  in  the  Eastern  Penitentiary 
in  Philadelphia, 

When  the  Sergeant  first  went  to  the  Sixth  Sub-Precinct, 
it  was,  as  before  stated,  swarming  with  thieves  and 
desperate  characters,  but  the  results  of  the  sergeant's 
firm  hand  were  soon  perceptible. 

For  the  first  few  months  the  lowest  number  of  arrests 
in  twenty-four  houi's  was  twenty-five,  and  included 
prisoners  charged  with  every  crime  except  arson. 

The  arrests  now  are  not  much  more  in  a  week,  despite 
the  rapid  growth  of  population. 

Full  of  wit  and  humor  and  a  gallant  officer,  withal,  is  Ser- 
geant Miles  O'Reilly.  He  is  forty-four  years  of  age.  He  went 
to  the  war  with  the  First  Long  Island  Volunteers  on 
June  20th,  1861,  and  just  four  years  later  found  himself 
discharged  without  having  felt  the  stinging  sensation  of 
a  ball.    During  the  latter  part  of  his  service  he  was  with 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


293 


the  Third  New  York  Independent  Battery.  He  obtained 
an  appointment  on  the  pohce  force  April  10th,  1874,  and 
was  detailed  to  patrol  duty.  On  January  1st,  1883,  he 
was  made  roundsman,  and  on  October  12th,  1885,  he 
donned  the  uniform  of  a  sergeant.  He  is  as  bold  as  he 
is  handsome  and  has  made  many  captures  of  criminals. 

Sergeant  J.  Addison  Cor  win  was  born  in  1842.  When 
war  was  declared  between  the  North  and  South  he  en- 
listed in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  New 
York  Volunteers  and  went  to  the  front.  He 
served  three  years  and  although  in  many  battles 
received  no  wounds.  In  1874  he  was  appointed 
on  the  police  force  and  assigned  to  patrol  duty.  He  was 
appointed  roundsman  July  6th,  1881,  and  on  January  1st, 
1883,  he  was  made  sergeant. 

He  was  one  of  the  principal  men  who  broke  up  the 
notorious  ''Romer  Best  Gang,"  which  was  comprised  of 
four  negroes,  one  white  man  and  two  negresses.  They 
perpetrated  daring  burglaries  and  would  stop  for 
nothing  when  once  they  had  planned  some  robbery. 
They  usually  climbed  in  the  second-story  window  of  the 
dwelHng- house  they  robbed. 

The  only  detective  in  the  Sixth  Sub- Precinct  is  George 
B.  Campbell.  He  is  remarkably  sharp  and  quick  to  make 
the  best  of  a  slight  clue. 

Among  the  many  arrests  he  has  made  are  eight  which 
were  all  connected  with  the  same  man,  Wolfgang 
Grouse,  who  although  he  has  been  in  Brooklyn  but  nine 
years  has  spent  eight  of  them  behind  the  bars  at  "Crow 
Hill".  This  thief  is  not  satisfied  with  one  good  robbery  a 
week,  but  wants  to  keep  up  pilfering  in  some  form  con- 
tinually.   He  stole  the  line  holding  a  canal-boat  to  a  dock 


294  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

on  Newtown  Creek  one  night,  and  let  the  boat  and  all 
aboard  drift  oat  into  the  river.  The  following  twelve 
months  he  spent  at  the  Penitentiary.  Campbell  so 
thoroughly  understood  the  man  that  the  first  night 
Grouse  would  regain  his  liberty  the  detective  would  go 
to  the  thief's  house  on  Montrose  avenue,  and  would 
catch  the  reckless  freebooter  in  almost  the  act  of  stealing 
and  lodge  him  in  jail  again. 

The  two  roundsmen  at  this  precinct,  who  are  acting 
sergeants,  are  Geo.  Hamer  and  Frank  F.  Williams. 


CHAPTER  XVL 

PRECINCTS  AND  STATION  HOUSES. 

{Continued.) 


Se\t:nth  Precinct.— Station  House.— Boundaries.— Captain  George 
R.  Rhodes.— A  Linguist  and  an  Athlete.— A  Schoolmate  of 
Secretary  Bayard. — An  Efficient  Officer. — The  Sergeants. — 
The  Roundsmen. — Detective  Donlon. 

Eighth  Precinct. — Boundaries. — Station  House. — Captain  Thomas 
Murphy.— A  Splendid  "War  Record.— A  Member  of  the  Grant 
Post. — The  Sergeants. — Detectives  and  Roundsmen. 

Eighth  Sub-Precinct. — Station  House. — Boundaries. — Commanding 
Sergeant  Kenney. — An  Ordnance  Boy  During  the  War. — 
His  Progress  in  Life.— Thieves  of  Nerve  —The  Sergeants. 
— Detectives  and  Roundsmen. 

THE  SEVENTH  PRECINCT. 

The  three-story  brick  building  on  the  corner  of 
Greenpoint  and  Manhattan  Avenues  is  given  up  to  the 
guardians  of  the  peace  of  the  Seventh  Precinct ;  above 
the  door  of  the  house  hangs  the  well-known  police  lamp 
of  green  glass.  The  room  into  which  this  door  leads  is 
used  as  the  ^ ^office/'  in  which  the  awe-inspiring  sergeant's 
desk  is  the  most  conspicuous  object.  To  the  left  of  the 
"  office,"  and  in  full  view  of  the  big  desk,''  is  the  cap- 
tain's private  office,  neatl}"  furnished  with  a  flat  writing 
table,  and  a  library  that  appears  to  be  well  stocked  with 
books  of  the  good  old-fashioned  size  and  solidity.  In  an 
extension  to  the  side  of  the  main  building  is  located  the 
lock-up,  consisting  of  eight  dark  and  dingy  cells.  To 
an  ordinary  person  it  would  appear  that  the  mere  fact  of 


296  Brooklyn's  guardians. 

having  to  pass  a  night  in  one  of  these  holes  in  the  wall" 
would  be  punishment  enough,  but  doubtless  Captain 
Rhodes' visitors"  have  become  so  used  to  them  that 
they  seem  as  comfortable  as  their  own  sleeping 
rooms.  The  upper  part  of  the  extension  is  given  up  to 
two  lodging- rooms  for  men  and  women  respectively. 
On  the  second  floor  of  the  main  building  is  situated  the 
'^officers' sitting  room,"  the  roundsmen's  quarters  and 
sleeping  apartments  for  the  men;  the  third  floor  is  used 
for  sleeping  accommodations  entirely.  To  the  rear  of  the 
main  building  is  being  erected  a  new  lock-up.  The 
site  where  this  new  extension  is  being  put  up  is  where 
the  ^^old  Bell  Tower"  used  to  stand — a  familiar  land- 
mark to  the  old  residents  of  Greenpoint ;  but,  alas,  the 
march  of  improvement  goes  on  and  such  objects  of  in- 
terest as  this  are  doomed  to  disappear.  When  this  new 
lock-up  is  finished  the  old  one  will  be  re-constructed  for  the 
use  of  the  patrol  wagon  which  is  soon  to  be  added  to  the 
Precinct,  and  other  police  purposes. 

The  Seventh  Precinct  extends  from  the  East  River 
along  Newtown  Creek,  to  Meeker  Avenue  to  Van  Cott, 
down  Van  Cott  to  Driggs  Street,  to  an  imaginary  line 
between  North  Fourteenth  Street  and  North  Thirteenth 
Street,  along  the  line  to  East  River,  and  along  the 
river  front  back  to  Newtown  Creek.  In  one  part  of  this 
Precinct  is  situated  what  is,  or  was  known  as  ' '  Danger 
Town,"  inhabited  by  the  "Far  Downs,"  and  was  at  one 
time  a  very  rough  locality,  but  since  Captain  Rhodes  iias 
taken  command  as  guardian  of  that  neighborhood  the 
nightly  depredators  that  had  infested  the  district  are 
heard  of  no  more. 

Captain  George  R.Rhodes  is  a  well-preserved  man  of 


GEORGE  U.  IIHODES, 
Captain. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


299 


about  three  score  and  two  years.  In  manner  he  is  ex- 
tremely courteous,  yet  very  reticent  regarding  himself. 
He  is  a  fine  linguist,  having  traveled  extensively  and 
studied  a  great  deal  abroad.  Xot\vithstanding  his  age, 
until  very  recently  he,  in  company  with  one  of  the  in- 
spectors, used  tliree  times  a  week  to  take  great  dehght  in 
a  pull  up  Xewtown  Creek  in  a  shell.  He  has  also  the 
reputation  of  being  able  to  put  every  man  in  his  precinct 
to  blush  as  far  as  walking  is  concerned.  He  was  born 
February  3,  1825. 

Secretary  of  State  Bayard  was  a  schoolmate  of  his. 
In  1S37,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  he  went  to  Turkey, 
where  his  father  was  chief  naval  instructor,  having 
charge  of  the  arsenal.  While  there  he  studied  and  mas- 
tered the  French  and  Italian  languages,  and  also  learned 
to  converse  in  Turkish.  For  three  years  he  remained 
abi'oad,  when  his  father  receiving  an  appointment  in 
his  own  country,  similar  to  the  one  he  occupied  abroad, 
he  returned  with  him. 

On  December  1,  1857,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Metro- 
pohtan  Police  Force.  He  was  assigned  to  the  Second 
Precinct  under  Captain  King.  After  a  few  transferrals 
he  was  made  sergeant  on  January  1,  1858,  there  being 
no  intermediate  position  of  roundsman  then.  Four 
years  later,  on  December  31,  1802,  while  on  the  Sec- 
ond Precinct,  he  was  made  captain  and  was  given  com- 
mand of  the  Third  Precinct.  It  was  while  on  the  last 
named  Precinct,  during  the  riots  of  '63,  that  he  proved 
himself  a  most  efficient  officer,  rendering  great  service  to 
the  city  in  preserving  order  in  that  dangerous  locality 
of  the  water  front  which  was  in  his  district.  On  July 
l>th,  1809,  he  was  transferred  to  his  present  precinct  and 


300 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


has  remained  there  since.  From  the  time  of  his  appoint- 
ment, about  thirty  years  ago,  he  has  not  been  fined  one 
day's  pay,  charges  which  have  been  brought  against  him 
never  having  been  sustained.  His  promotion  to  a  cap- 
taincy was  entirely  unlooked  for  and  unsohcited,  and  can 
be  attributed  simply  to  his  excellent  record  and  good  con- 
duct as  patrolman  and  sergeant. 

Sergeant  Samuel  Hardy  was  born  on  the  10th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1844.  On  June  10th,  1863,  he  enhstedin  the  Fifty- 
second  New  York  State  Militia.  It  was  about  this  time 
that  Stewart's  cavalry  made  a  raid  on  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  response  to  the  request  by  the  Governor  of  that 
State  for  troops,  young  Hardy's  regiment  was  among 
those  sent.  His  regiment  went  as  far  as  Antietam,  where 
Lee  was  defeated. 

On  July  24th,  1863,  the  thirty  days  for  which  his  regi- 
ment had  been  mustered  out  having  expired,  they  were 
ordered  home  and  were  honorably  discharged.  On 
December  1st,  1886,  he  was  appointed  on  the  old  Metro- 
politan force  as  patrolman. 

He  was  promoted  roundsman  in  September,  1883. 
On  October  10,  1885,  a  sergeant's  shield  was  the  reward 
of  a  successful  civil  service  examination. 

Sergeant  Thomas  H.  Baker  was  born  on  the  1st  of 
April,  1850.  He  was  appointed  to  the  pohce  force  on  the 
8th  of  December,  1874.  He  became  roundsman  May  11, 
1883.  On  May  23d,  1885,  he  was  promoted  to  sergeant. 
While  in  the  Sixth  Precinct,  about  1875,  he  had  a  curious 
adventure  with  a  man  who  had  become  crazed  through 
sickness.  He  was  a  basket-maker  by  trade,  and  having 
been  sick  for  a  long  while  had  become  despondent  and 
attempted  suicide  in  the  presence  of  his  wife  and  child 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


301 


by  cutting  his  throat  with  one  of  the  long  iron  knives, 
such  as  are  used  by  shoemakers.  His  wife  interfered  and 
received  a  severe  cut  across  the  pahii  of  her  hand.  His 
little  boy  seeing  his  mother  thus  cut  also  attempted  to 
take  the  knife  from  his  father,  and  in  doing  so  the  knife 
was  drawn  through  his  clenched  hand,  almost  severing 
some  of  the  digits.  By  this  time  the  father  seemed  to 
understand  what  he  had  done,  and  again  attempted  his 
own  life,  this  time  by  cutting  his  wrist.  Just  at  this 
moment  Sergeant  Baker,  at  that  time  patrolman,  arrived 
on  the  scene,  having  been  informed  by  some  children  of 
what  was  taking  place.  Before  he  had  quite  arrived  at 
the  place  of  the  attempted  suicide  the  now  frenzied  bas- 
ket maker  heard  him  coming,  and  still  retaining  posses- 
sion of  his  murderous  weapon  attempted  to  escape  by 
going  up  through  the  scuttle  to  the  roof,  where  he 
awaited  the  coming  of  the  officer.  He  did  not  have  to 
wait  long.  Tell-tale  blood  stains  revealed  the  way  of 
escape  and  in  a  few  moments  the  officer  was  also  on  the 
way  to  the  roof.  Instinct  warned  him  to  be  cautious. 
Placing  his  cap  on  the  end  of  his  baton  he  shoved  it  up 
through  the  opening  and  above  the  level  of  the  roof. 
Well  for  him  that  he  did  so.  No  sooner  did  the  crazy 
man  on  the  roof  espy  the  hat,  than  rip,  and  the  blade  of 
the  long  iron  knife  came  through  the  top  of  the  hat.  The 
officer  then  immediately  jumped  on  the  roof,  but  the 
other  had  gone.  He  had  jumped  down  to  the  roof  of  the 
house  adjoining,  and  had  gone  down  through  the  scuttle 
into  the  house,  through  the  house  to  the  street  and  from 
there  back  to  his  own  quarters.  The  officer  followed  in  the 
same  manner  and  at  last  came  upon  him,  standing  in 
the  corner  of  his  own  room  in  a  defiant  attitude,  knife  in 


302 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


hand,  ready  to  strike  anyone  who  would  dare  to  approach 
him.  Approaching  him  quietly,  the  ofificer  drew  his  club, 
and  turning  the  tasselled  end  towards  the  man  asked 
him  for  the  use  of  the  knife  to  cut  the  tassel  off. 
Strangely  enough  it  was  handed  him  in  the  most  polite 
manner  possible.  Of  course  the  man  was  immediately 
secured. 

Sergeant  Leonard  W.  Elliott  was  born  October  17,  1833. 
He  was  appointed  to  the  Metropolitan  Police  Force  May 
28th,  1864.  After  nine  months  of  duty  as  patrolman  he 
was  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  promoted  Acting  Ser- 
geant by  the  Commissioners  and  eight  months  later  he 
was  made  Sergeant,  in  1866.  He  is  a  brother  of  ex- Judge 
Elliott,  who  was  also  at  one  time  County  Clerk.  He  has 
a  very  interesting  book  which  he  posts  up  from  the 
Station  House  Criminal  Record.  It  is  a  sort  of  private 
ledger  in  which  he  has  classified  all  sorts  of  statistics 
concerning  the  officers,  men  and  criminals  with  whom 
he  has  come  in  contact  in  the  various  precincts  to  which 
he  has  been  attached. 

Sergeant  Robert  W.  Reid  was  born  on  June  5th,  1840. 
He  was  appointed  to  the  Police  Force  December  28th, 
1866.  On  August  20th,  18Y3,  he  was  made  sergeant  in 
his  present  Precinct,  there  being  no  roundsman  attached 
to  it  at  that  time.  He  has  been  Sergeant  in  the  Precinct 
about  fourteen  years,  has  an  excellent  record  and  is 
thoroughly  respected  by  his  men. 

The  roundsmen  attached  to  the  Seventh  Precinct  are 
Allen  R.  Knapp  and  Samuel  Stillwaggen.  Both  are 
excellent  officers  and  have  splendid  records  for  long 
service. 

The  Seventh  Precinct  has  but  one  detective — Stephen 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


303 


A.  Donlon.  Before  his  assumption  of  detective  duties 
he  was  keeper  of  the  Kings  County  Penitentiary,  in 
which  position  he  gained  a  personal  knowledge  of  crim- 
inals now  very  valuable  to  him. 

THE  EIGHTH  PRECINCT. 

The  city  line  forms  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  Eighth 
Precinct,  and  Gowanus  canal  faces  it  on  the  west  ;  on 
the  north  side  is  Third  Street,  and  Twenty -fifth  Street 
runs  along  its  southern  side.  The  Station-house  is  lo- 
cated on  the  corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Sixteenth  street, 
and  is  an  imposing  three-story  structure  of  Philadelphia 
brick,  and  makes  the  small  modest  dwellings,  with  which 
that  portion  of  the  city  is  thickly  strewn,  look  strikingly 
dull  and  unpretentious  by  comparison. 

It  was  put  U23  in  1873  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
most  perfect  precinct  station-houses  in  the  city. 

Off  the  main  building,  w4th  which  it  is  connected  by  a 
narrow  wooden  passage-way,  is  a  brick  extension  one 
story  in  height,  the  ground  floor  of  which  is  laid  out  in 
prison  cells  which,  owing  to  Captain  Murphy's  efforts  in 
ridding  the  neighborhood  of  criminal  classes,  are  seldom 
occupied.  Two  lodging-rooms  for  men  and  women  re- 
spectively occupy  the  south  side  of  the  extension  and 
both  buildings  are  heated  by  a  large  automatic  furnace 
in  the  cellar.  This  means  of  heating  station-houses  is  a 
decided  improvement  on  the  former  old-fashioned  system 
of  bulging  stone-bellied  stoves  which  only  heated  the 
one  apartment  in  which  they  were  placed  and  now  the 
unfortunates  who  seek  the  shelter  of  the  Eighth  Pre- 
cinct lodging-rooms  are  as  comfortably  protected  from 
the  cold  of  winter  as  the  captain  and  officers.  When 
the  pressure  of  steam  in  this  furnace  is  up  to  the  limit, 


304 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


a  valve  opens  automatically  and  relieves  the  boiler  of  its 
superfluity  of  material.  Consequently  it  requires  but 
little  attention,  and  performs  its  duties  so  admirably 
that  doubtless  ere  long  it  will  be  in  general  use  in  all 
the  Brooklyn  station-houses. 

To  the  left  of  the  railed  desk  is  the  captain's  room, 
handsomely  furnished  with  Brussels  carpet  and  richly 
upholstered  chairs  and  ottomans.  A  large  and  hand- 
somely carved  cylinder  desk  attracts  the  eye  of  visitors, 
and  with  the  massive  captain  in  the  cushioned  chair  in 
front  the  scene  inspires  awe  and  respect  from  the  most 
toughened  criminal.  Opposite  the  captain's  office  is  the 
sergeants'  reading  room  and  sleeping  apartments,  and  at 
the  rear  of  the  main  building  on  the  ground  floor  is  the 
men's  reading  room,  which  might  also  be  termed  a 
model  gymnasium,  as  it  contains  a  fine  collection  of  In- 
dian clubs,  dumb-bells  and  other  articles  of  athletic 
culture. 

The  officers'  sleeping  rooms  occupy  the  third  floor, 
where  accommodations  for  eighty  men,  if  necessary,  can 
be  found.  The  ^'  Eighth"  is  one  of  the  largest  Precincts 
in  the  city,  and  possibly  should  number  more  officers  on 
its  roll  book.  Tiie  small  force  of  forty,  however,  covers 
the  boundaries  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Department 
and  the  residents,  and  no  increase  will  probably  be  made 
in  the  Precinct  for  the  present.  In  the  neighborhood  of 
the  station-house  buildings  are  rapidly  going  up,  and 
Italians  and  Poles  are  immigrating  to  that  portion  of  the 
city  in  large  numbers,  so  that  the  small  force  is  obliged 
to  be  wide  awake,  particularly  on  the  midnight  tours. 

Captain  Thomas  Murphy,  the  master  of  the  Eighth 
Precinct,  was  born  July  l>th,  1 844. 


THOMAS  MURPHY, 
Captain. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


307 


On  December  23d,  186 7,  he  was  appointed  patrolman 
in  the  Fourth  Precinct  and  in  1870  was  made  roundsman. 
In  1873  he  was  assigned  to  the  detective  force,  and  was 
given  a  sergeantcy  in  1878  and  transferred  to  the 
Twelfth  Precinct.  From  there  he  was  promoted  to 
captain  and  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Precinct. 

Captain  ]\Iurphy's  career  is  a  striking  illustration  of 
the  fact  that  circumstances  taken  advantage .  of  in 
time  often  make  the  man.  The  following  instance  will 
serve  to  make  this  plain  :  While  a  detective  in  the  Xinth 
Sub-Precinct  in  August,  1878,  on  one  of  his  tours  of 
inspection  he  noticed  a  party  of  pretty  wonnni  and 
well-dressed  men  playing  croquet  on  the  lawn  in  front 
of  a  large  residence  on  the  corner  of  Patchen  Avenue 
and  Jefferson  Street.  Passing  and  re-passing  the  dwel- 
ling daily,  he  had  noticed  that  this  house  had  not  been 
occupied  for  some  months,  and  consequently,  noticing  a 
party  on  the  lawn  on  the  day  in  question,  he  wondered 
who  his  new  neighbors  could  be.  Coming  closer  he 
remarked  that  the  women  were  particularly  pretty  and 
expensively  dressed,  while  tAvo  gentlemen  were  corre- 
spondingly attractive.  Although  he  imagined  something 
familiar  in  the  countenance  of  the  men,  he  gave  it  only 
a  passing  tliought,  and  at  the  first  opportunity  saw  in 
the  Brooklyn  Directory  that  Wilham  Black,  a  broker, 
was  the  new  occupant  of  the  house  shortly  afterwards. 
One  day.  in  AVilliamsbm'g,  he  saw  one  of  the  men  com- 
ing out  of  a  hardware  store,  and  as  he  passed  close  to 
him,  the  thought  suddenly  flashed  through  his  mind 
that  the  individual  was  "Billy  Porter,"  the  notorious 
bank  burglar ;  his  partial  indentification  of  a  few  days 
before  was  now  accounted  for,  and  entering  the  store 


308 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


the  burglar  had  just  left  he  discovered  that  Porter  had 
purchased  a  sledge  hammer.  Detective  Murphy's  course 
of  action  was  at  once  formed,  and  after  following 
the  burglar  to  his  palatial  house  he  consulted  his  cap- 
tain and  was  directed  to  give  his  whole  attention  for  the 
time  being  to  the  Thieves'  Nest."  From  a  small  church 
opposite  the  house  Murphy  saw  Shang"  Draper,  once 
the  king  of  New  York  panel  thieves  ;  Johnnie"  Irving, 
of  Nathan  murder  fame  ;  Porter  and  one  other  leave  the 
dwelling  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.  His  worst 
suspicions  were  at  once  confirmed,  and  satisfied  that  he 
had  to  deal  with  at  least  three  of  the  most  desperate 
criminals  in  the  United  States,  he  obtained  assistance 
and  raided  the  house.  Possibly  this  was  one  of  the  most 
important  events  in  the  police  annals  of  the  city,  and  short- 
ly after  a  sergeant's  badge  replaced  the  shield  on  Murphy's 
left  breast.  His  remarkable  courage  and  daring  in  enter- 
ing the  house  through  a  window,  unaccompanied,  there- 
by placing  himself  at  the  mercy  of  the  three  acknowl- 
edged most  desperate  men  among  the  criminal  classes, 
won  the  admiration  and  respect  of  the  whole  department. 

He  says,  in  recounting  this  experience,  that  a  gambler 
would  not  have  taken  odds  of  one  hundred  to  one  on  his 
life  as  he  vaulted  in  at  the  second  story  window  and 
found  three  men  seated  at  a  table  on  which  was  a  large 
sura  of  silver,  the  proceeds  of  the  robbery  of  Ibert's  feed 
store  on  Graham  Avenue,  and  three  silver  guns  of  the 
English  bull  dog  pattern.  The  dwelling  was  furnished 
magnificently,  and  the  intelligent  and  pretty  woman 
who  formed  the  remainder  of  the  household,  was  un- 
consciously awakened  and  fought  desperately  against 
the  intrusion. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


309 


While  ill  Raymond  Street  Jail,  Porter  and  Irving 
escaped,  but  were  subsequently  captured  in  Philadelphia 
and  sentenced  to  five  years  each  in  the  Penitentiary. 
Draper  was  taken  to  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  for 
participation  in  the  Northampton  Bank  robbery,  but 
made  restitution  of  some  of  the  stolen  bonds  and  thereby 
escaped  punishment. 

He  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a  sporting  house  on  Sixth 
Avenue,  New  York.  Irving  was  killed  by  a  companion 
m  a  New  York  drinking  place  some  years  ago,  and 
another  of  the  gang,  Gilbert,  died  in  prison  recently. 
Porter,  we  believe,  is  still  alive. 

In  his  general  order,  Number  124,  August,  1878,  In- 
spector G.  A.  Waddy,  then  Acting  Superintendent  of 
police,  says:  "At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Police  held 
on  the  thirteenth  instant,  the  following  preamble  and 
resolutions  were  adopted  : 

"Whereas  there  was  effected  on  the  morning  of  the 
eleventh  instant  by  Sergeant  James  Dunn  and  Detective 
Thomas  Murphy,  of  the  Ninth  Sub-Precinct,  a  highly 
important  arrest  of  four  desperate  and  expert  burg- 
lars, whose  depredations  upon  property  have  been  as 
large  as  the  means  they  employed  were  successful  and 
ingenious,  and 

' '  Whereas  the  board  feels  it  to  be  less  a  duty  than  a 
pleasure  to  reward  this  intelligent  and  successful  piece  of 
detective  work  ^vith  the  expression  of  its  approbation, 
therefore, 

"Resolved,  that  the  arrest  by  Sergeant  James  Dunn, 
commanding  the  Ninth  Sub-Precinct,  and  Detective 
Thomas  Murphy,  of  the  same  Precinct,  of  the  four  expert 
burglars   is  what  may  well  serve  as  a  model  for  the 


310 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


intelligent  and  quick  working  up  of  slight  clews,  and 
goes  far  to  reflect  credit  upon  the  police  force  of  this  city. 

' '  Eesolved,  that  the  officers  who  participated  in  this  ar- 
rest are  deserving  of  the  highest  credit,  and  especially  are 
the  thanks  of  the  board  due  to  Detective  Murphy  for  the 
intelligence  and  good  judgment  displayed  by  him  in  this 
case,  making  a  record  for  himself  of  which  he  may  well 
be  proud,  and  which  places  him  in  a  most  favorable 
situation  among  officers  deserving  of  promotion. " 

Captain  Murphy  has  a  war  record  of  which  he  can  be 
justly  proud.  He  joined  the  army  as  private  in  the 
Thirty-seventh  Infantry  on  the  2nd  of  August,  1861, 
under  Col.  McCan.  On  October  2,  1861,  he  was  taken 
prisoner  with  eight  others  at  Munson  Hill,  Virginia, 
during  a  skirmish  with  the  picket  lines,  where  he  was 
wounded  in  the  neck.  From  there  he  was  taken  to 
Eichmond,  and  as  there  was  no  exchange  of  prisoners  at 
that  time  was  pardoned  on  March  17,  1862,  and  came  to 
Washington,  where  he  was  mustered  out  under  Genoral 
Wadsworth,  from  which  regiment  he  was  discharged  in 
1862.  Some  time  afterward  prisoners  were  exchanged  ; 
he  then  raised  a  company  with  himself  as  lieutenant,  and 
at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  August  12,  1862,  his 
force  was  so  reduced  that  it  was  consolidated  with  the 
Seventy-third  New  York,  then  called  the  Second  Zouaves. 
By  reason  of  this  consolidation,  all  the  officers'  positions 
being  occupied,  he  was  mustered  out  and  returned 
home. 

He  is  now  a  prominent  member  of  Grand  Army  Post, 
No.  327,  which  is  now  called  the  Grant  Post. 

Sergeant  John  Graham  was  born  in  1839.  He  was 
appointed  on  the  police  force  as  patrolman  on  November 


^  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  ?>1  I 

15,  1867.  Some  years  later  he  was  appointed  roundsman 
and  in  1873  was  promoted  Sergeant.  He  is  considered 
by  his  associates  a  superb  officer. 

Sergeant  Lefferts  W.  Lloyd  was  bom  July  6th,  1840. 
He  was  appointed  as  patrolman  May  13th,  1867,  in  the 
First  Precinct,  New  York,  where  he  distinguished  himself 
by  saving  a  number  of  lives  from  drowning.  On  April 
17,  1868,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Forty-third  Precinct, 
Brooklyn,  where  the  Board  of  Police  recommended  his 
promotion  to  roundsman,  and  on  June  12,  1872,  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Eighth  Precinct  and  promoted  to  ser- 
geant. 

Sergeant  Dennis  Driscoll  was  born  August  9th,  1817. 
In  1871  he  was  appointed  patrolman,  which  position  he 
filled  until  March  23d,  1871,  when  he  was  appointed 
roundsman,  and  had  accredited  himself  so  well  that  on 
August  1st,  1872,  he  was  promoted  to  the  sergeant's  desk, 
which  position  he  now  holds,  and  is  a  good  example  for 
the  men  under  him  to  imitate. 

Sergeant  Elias  P.  Clayton  was  born  April  22d,  1850. 
He  was  appointed  on  the  force  as  patrolman  April  7th, 
1874,  and  became  a  roundsman  May  23,  1885.  On  Jan- 
uary 3d,  1886,  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  sergeant  and  has 
acquitted  himself  in  that  position  to  the  complete  satis- 
faction of  his  superior  officers. 

The  roundsmen  of  the  Eighth  Precinct  are  James 
Doyle  and  David  Kogers. 

The  detectives  are  George  E.  Stallsworthy  and  James 
Lenehan,  both  capable  and  zealous  officers. 

THE  EIGHTH  SUB- PRECINCT, 

An  ordinary  three-story  building  on  Third  Avenue,  near 


312 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


the  corner  of  Thirty-fifth  Street,  shelters  the  men  of  the 
Eighth  Suh-Precinct.  It  has  the  regulation  lamp  on 
the  outside,  and  is  huilt  of  brick.  Evidently  it  was  in- 
tended for  a  store  with  flat  apartments  above.  Three 
pairs  of  large  plate  glass  doors  open  into  a  large  well- 
ventilated  office,  furnished  as  most  such  offices  are.  To 
the  rear  of  the  office  another  large  airy  room  is  devoted 
to  the  use  of  the  Captain  as  a  sitting-room.  The  floors 
above  are  devoted  to  the  sleeping  apartments  of  the  men, 
and  it  having  been  built  and  intended  to  be  used  as  flats, 
is  divided  into  two  sides,  one  of  which  is  occupied  by  the 
first  and  the  other  by  the  second  platoon.  There  are 
three  dressing  rooms  and  one  bath-room  on  the  upper 
floors,  allowing  plenty  of  space  for  the  men  to  perform 
their  ablutions.  All  the  rooms  are  large,  airy  and  clean, 
and  are  not  at  all  crowded.  The  sergeants  and  rounds- 
men have  all  got  separate  sleeping  apartments.  To  the 
rear  of  the  house  is  the  lock-up,  a  small  one-story  brick 
building.  Inside  of  it,  and  unlike  all  other  lock-ups,  a 
large  iron  cage,  divided  off  into  three  apartments,  makes 
four  large  clean  cells  armed  with  grated  iron  doors, 
fitted  with  Yale  locks.  Owing  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
Commanding-Sergeant  and  his  officers,  however,  it  is 
seldom  filled,  evil-doers  giving  the  Eighth  Sub  "  a  wide 
berth.  The  Precinct  covers  a  large  and  lonesome  area 
and  is  bounded  by  Twenty-fifth  Street  running  northeast 
to  Fifth  Avenue,  by  Fifth  Avenue  running  south  to 
Thirty-sixth  Street,  by  Thirty-sixth  Street  running  east  to 
Seventh  Avenue,  by  Seventh  Avenue  running  south  to 
the  Brooklyn,  Bath  &  Coney  Island  Eailroad,  by  that  line 
running  east  as  far  as  the  old  toll  gate  at  the  beginning 
of  the  City  line  dividing  New  Utrecht  from  Brooklyn,  by 


Brooklyn's  guardiaxs. 


313 


the  City  line  running  south  to  Sixtieth  Street,  by  Sixtieth 
Street  running  west  to  New  York  Bay,  and  on  the  weet 
by  New  York  Bay  from  Sixtieth  Street  to  Twenty-fifth 
Street. 

Commanding-Sergeant  James  Kenney  was  born  on 
April  5,  ISttl.  He  is  a  tall,  well-proportioned  man,  giving 
one  an  idea  of  immense  muscular  force.  He  is  reticent 
in  manner,  but  evidently  a  man  of  action.  Just  prior  to 
the  Civil  War  he  held  a  position  in  the  Ordnance  De- 
partment on  Governor's  Island,  where  he  was  during  the 
entire  war.  On  August  15,  1865,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  Atlantic  Dock  Police  Squad,  at  that  time  considered 
special  officers.  June  12,  1866,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Metropolitan  Police  Force  ;  and  a  few  years  later  he  was 
made  roundsman,  and  was  sent  to  the  Forty -third  Sub, 
now  the  Eleventh  Precinct.  November  10,  1870,  he  was 
appointed  sergeant  in  the  same  Precinct.  He  remained 
on  that  Precinct  a  little  over  twenty  years,  but 
on  the  8th  of  January,  1867,  he  left  and  was 
given  the  command  of  the  Eighth  Sub-Precinct. 
While  roundsman  on  the  Forty-third  Sub  he  made  a  very 
jjlucky  arrest.  A  burglary  had  been  committed  on  Car- 
roll Street.  Certain  parties  were  suspected  and  one 
evening  he  attemiited  to  arrest  them  in  a  flock.  They 
tried  to  escape  him  by  jumping  into  a  boat  ;  he  also 
jumped  into  it  and  was  thrown  overboard  by  them. 
Swimming  ashore,  he  succeeded  in  getting  another  boat 
and  chased  them  as  far  as  Thirty- ninth  Street  and  Fifth 
Avenue,  where  he  captured  them.  Another  good  capture, 
this  time  in  company  with  Inspector  Eeilly,  was  the  ar- 
rest of  a  gang  of  thieves  for  stealing  a  canal  boat  of 
grain  from  New  York.    They  had  towed  it  from  the 


314 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


East  Eiver  to  the  Erie  Basin,  having  hired  trucks  to  cart 
the  grain,  and  were  engaged  in  unloading  when  an  offi- 
cer appeared.  As  it  was  rather  late  for  a  canal  boat  to 
discharge  her  cargo  he  spoke  to  one  of  the  men,  who 
did  not  answer  satisfactorily,  but  seemed  to  be  rather 
confused.  He  reported  the  circumstances  at  the  station- 
house,  and  Sergeant  Kenney  in  company  with  the  pres- 
ent Inspector  Eeilly  went  down  to  investigate. 

Arriving  at  the  place  they  soon  discerned  that  things 
were  not  as  they  should  be  and  arrested  five  of  the  men, 
three  being  sent  to  the  Penitentiary.  There  were  over 
eight  thousand  bushels  of  grain  in  the  boat  and  not  one 
was  found  missing. 

It  had  been  the  intention  of  the  men  to  scuttle  and 
sink  the  boat  afterwards,  thus  destroying  all  evidence  of 
the  theft,  and  it  no  doubt  would  have  remained  a  great 
mystery  where  it  had  disappeared  to.  One  of  the  men 
who  were  arrested,  named  McCuUough,  afterwards  es- 
caped, assaulting  and  nearly  murdering  the  keeper  at 
Auburn  in  his  efforts  to  do  so. 

The  sergeant  has  also  rendered  valuable  service  to  the 
city  in  considerably  toning  down  the  character  of  the 
suburban  picnics  held  within  his  Precinct  by  roughs 
from  all  parts  of  the  city. 

Sergeant  Lawrence  J.  Murphy  was  born  June  4,  1850. 
On  April  28,  1881,  he  was  appointed  to  the  police  force 
as  patrolman.  On  July  15,  1885,  he  was  made  rounds- 
man, and  on  January  8,  1887,  he  was  made  sergeant- 
and  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Sub-Precinct. 

Sergeant  John  Morrell  was  born  October  4th  1840.  In 
1862  he  enhsted  in  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  of  Brooklyn, 
and  served  for  three  years.    He  lirst  smelt  powder  at 


JAMES  KENNEY, 
Captain. 


I 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


317 


Bull  Run  and  was  engaged  in  many  subsequent  battles  ; 
being  wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  he  was  sent 
home.  Upon  his  recovery  his  old  life  of  excitement  in- 
duced him  to  join  the  Police  Force,  and  on  September 
12th,  1860,  he  was  appointed  patrolman.  He  was  pro- 
moted roundsman  in  1872,  and  in  1873,  one  year 
later,  the  much  coveted  sergeant's  badge  was  se- 
cured . 

Detective  James  Devoy  was  born  on  May  9,  185G. 
On  October  14,  1872,  he  was  appointed  to  the  force, 
and  for  a  time  maintained  order  in  Judge  Massey's  court. 
On  January  Gth,  1887,  he  was  appointed  detective  and 
was  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Sub-Precinct. 

He  is  probably  the  youngest  detective  on  the  force  and 
has  an  excellent  record,  never  having  been  fined  a  day's 
pay. 

Detective  Peter  McCormack  was  born  February  29, 
1848.  He  was  appointed  on  January  1, 1876,  to  the  Police 
Force.  He  was  made  detective  on  January  6,  1887,  and 
sent  to  the  Eighth  Sub-Precinct;  he  has  remained  there 
since. 

He  is  a  good  deal  of  a  humorist,  and  sees  and  enjoys 
the  fun  of  daily  life.  He  illustrates  the  enforcement  of 
the  excise  law  in  the  following  good  anecdote  :  ^  ^  One  of 
our  police  officers  in  plain  clothes  went  into  a  chemist's 
shop  on  Fulton  Street,  and  winked  knowingly  at  the 
assistant  behind  the  counter.  '  Give  me  a  glass  of  soda 
water,'  said  he,  '  and  pour  some  out  of  that  black  bottle 
into  it. ' 

'  This  one  V  said  the  assistant,  lifting  a  likely  looking 
bottle  in  his  hand, 

'''Yes,'  said  the  disguised  poUce  officer.    A  liberal 


318 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


quantity  of  amber-colored  fluid  was  added  to  the  soda 
water  and  five  cents  change  returned. 

In  another  instant  the  mixture  had  been  swallowed. 
It  gave  rise  to  alarming  symptoms  of  apoplexy. 

'  Thunder  !  What  the  mischief  sort  of  poison  is  that  V 
asked  the  officer,  when  he  recovered  his  voice.  '  Why, 
that  is  our  patent  anti  -  cholera  mixture.  It  prevents 
sunstroke  in  warm  weather  and  passes  for  whiskey  by 
detectives  on  Sunday. '  " 

The  roundsmen  attached  to  the  Eighth  Sub-Precinct 
are  Bernard  Cole  and  Patrick  Summers.  Both  are  good 
officers  and  have  earned  excellent  reputations. 

Note. — Since  the  preceding  chapter  was  written  the 
Eighth  Sub-Precinct  has  been  erected  into  a  full  pre- 
cinct, under  the  title  of  the  Eighteenth;  and  at  the  same 
time  James  Kenney  w^as  promoted  from  his  former  posi- 
tion of  Commanding-Sergeant  to  that  of  Captain  of  the 
new  precinct.  This  well-earned  promotion  gives  great 
satisfaction  to  all  the  new  Captain's  friends. 


CHAPTER  XVIL 

PRECINCTS  AND  STATION  HOUSES. 

{Continued.) 

Ninth  Precinct.— Station-house. — A  Model  Building. — Boundaries. 
— Captain  James  Ennis. — Raiding  a  Gambling  Den. — Sergeant 
Rogers. — A  War  Veteran. — Sergeants  Lattey,  Wilson  and 
Stacom. — The  Roundsmen  and  Detectives. 

Tenth  Precinct. — Station  house. — Mounted  Squad  Quarters. — 
Boundaries.— Captain  Henry  L.  Jewett.— A  Gentleman  and 
A  Scholar.— His  Wonderful  Dog  Minnie.— Sergeant  Johnson.— 
Sergeants  Metcalf  and  Moro. — Two  War  Veterans. — Ser- 
geants Harold  and  Lamb. — Roundsmen  and  Detectives. — Gam- 
blers' Superstition. 

THE  NINTH  PRECINCT. 

Xear  the  corner  of  Gates  and  Marcy  Avenues,  on  the 
North  side  of  Gates,  stands  a  pretentious  three-story 
modern  building  of  Philadelphia  pressed  brick,  painted 
white,  with  dark  red  blinds  and  brown-stone  trimmings. 
It  stands  almost  in  the  center  of  a  plot  of  ground  about 
fifty  by  one  hundred  feet  and  faces  the  south.  On  the 
one  side  and  to  the  west  a  beautifully  laid  out  and  care- 
fully kept  parterre  runs  through  to  the  end  of  the  plot 
of  ground.  The  flower  beds  on  either  side  of  the  gar- 
den are  filled  with  all  kinds  of  flowers  in  bloom,  and  run 
parallel  with  a  sidewalk  as  far  back  as  the  fences  of  the 
gardens  belonging  to  the  houses  in  the  rear  will  admit. 
To  the  east  of  the  building  a  wide  alley -way  runs  the  en- 
tire length  of  the  building  and  is  terminated  by  the 
aforesaid  fences.  The  appearance  of  the  building  is  in- 
dicative of  what  it  really  is,  and  were  there  any  doubts 


320 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


as  to  what  it  was  the  green  lamp  in  front  would  immedi- 
ately dispel  them.  ' Precinct  Station-house"  is  as  clearly 
written  on  it  as  though  painted  in  flaring  red  letters. 
Such  it  is.  It  is  the  Ninth  Precinct  Station-house,  over 
which  Captain  Ennis  reigns.  It  was  built  in  1864. 
Entering  it  by  a  large  wide  entrance  in  the  center  of  the 
building,  one  finds  himself  in  a  large,  well-lighted  and 
cleanly  kept  office.  It  is  furnished  with  the  usual  sta- 
tion office  desk,  regulation  railing  around  it,  and  behind 
it  the  telegraphic  and  telephonic  apparatus  common  to 
all  station-houses.  On  the  walls  large  bulletin  boards, 
j)lacarded  with  bills  offering  rewards  for  arrests,  identifi- 
cations, etc.,  are  hung,  which  bills  being  pasted  on  re- 
gardless of  the  beauty  of  geometrical  exactness,  and  dis- 
playing all  degrees  of  crookedness,  on  which  latter  charge 
they  should  be  locked  up  (in  a  drawer,  not  lock-up),  seem 
hardly  in  keeping  with  the  general  neatness  of  the  sur- 
roundings. To  the  r^ar,  and  to  the  left  looking  rearward, 
is  the  Captain's  private  office  and  bedroom  com- 
bined. It  is  a  small  room,  sub-divided  by  a  half  arch,  and 
beautifully  papered  and  frescoed.  It  is  wainscotted 
throughout  with  hard-wood  and  is  furnished  in  wood  of 
the  same  color,  with  red  leather  upholstering,  making  it 
appear  large  and  refined.  Just  to  the  rear  of  it,  but  not 
connected,  is  the  bathroom.  Running  water  is  in  every 
room  of  the  house.  To  the  left  of  the  central  hallway  is 
the  sergeants'  smoking  and  waiting  room,  a  small  and 
rather  comfortless  apartment  furnished  with  a  ward- 
robe and  a  few  chairs.  To  the  rear  of  it  is  an  unused 
room,  mth  accommodations  for  about  five.  The  floor 
above  is  devoted  to  the  common  sitting  room  of  the  men 
and  various  sleeping  apartments,  among  them  those  of 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


321 


the  roundsmen  and  sergeants,  which  latter  is  divided  into 
two  compartments  by  means  of  a  wooden  partition. 
The  third  floor  is  devoted  to  the  same  purpose,  that  of 
sleej)ing  apartments,  and  above  it  is  the  roof,  on  which 
is  a  large  cupola.  The  drying  room  is  in  the  sub-ceUar, 
where  the  heating  apparatus,  a  patent  steam  heating 
furnace,  is  situated.  To  the  rear  of  the  house  is  a  two- 
story  brick  structure,  and  although  built  separately  and 
apart  from  the  main  building  it  is  so  housed  in  and  con- 
nected with  it  that  it  appears  to  be  one  and  the  same  house. 
In  this  is  the  lock-up,  which  contains  ten  cells,  five  on 
each  side  and  all  on  the  ground  floor  facing  east  and  west 
respectively.  Above  the  cells  on  the  floor  above  are  the 
two  lodging  rooms,  one  for  ladies  and  the  other  for  the 
masculine  genus  tramp.  The  alley  on  the  right  hand 
side  of  the  house  is  shortly  to  be  mdened  to  make  room 
for  a  patrol  wagon,  which  is  soon  to  be  placed  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Precinct.  The  building  on  the  whole  is  con- 
sidered to  be  next  to  the  finest  police  station  in  Brookl}Ti. 

The  Precinct,  which  is  a  large  one,  is  bounded  on  the 
east  by  Stuyvesant  Avenue,  commencing  at  Myrtle  and 
running  southwesterly  to  McDonough  Street  ;  on  the 
south  by  McDonough  Street  and  Fulton  Avenue,  running 
in  a  westerly  direction  to  Franklin  Avenue  ;  on  the 
west  by  Franklin  Avenue,  running  north  to  Myrtle  Ave- 
nue and  on  the  north  by  Myrtle  Avenue  to  Stuyvesant 
Avenue,  which  is  the  point  of  beginning  of  the  western 
boundary.  It  is  a  large  and  but  sparsely  settled  district, 
but  omng  to  the  intense  vigilance  of  its  police  and  their 
officers  it  has  been  pretty  well  kept  free  -of  aU  kinds  of 
obnoxious  characters. 

Captain  James  Ennis  was  born  on  the  1st  of  March, 


322 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


1847.  He  is  a  tall,  dark-complexioned  man  of  martial 
bearing. 

On  August  8th,  I  S  TO,  he  was  appointed  patrolman 
and  assigned  to  the  Sixth  Precinct.  On  November  l7th, 
1875,  he  was  made  detective.  In  this  capacity  he 
served  until  March,  1884,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Thirteenth  Precinct.  On  January  5th,  1887,  he  passed 
the  civil  service  examination  for  the  captaincy,  and 
passed  with  next  to  the  best  examination.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Captain  and  assigned  to  the  Ninth  Precinct. 

He  had  not  long  been  detective  when  he  made  a  name 
for  himself  by  raiding  a  gambling  den  in  Pierrepont  Street 
near  Fulton.  He  approached  the  place  about  nine 
o'clock  at  night,  forced  the  door  and  held  it  open  until 
assistance  arrived,  notwithstanding  the  attempts  of  the 
inmates  to  escape.  He  also  brought  to  justice  the  no- 
torious William  O'Dell,  who  in  1881  murdered  a  man  in 
Green  Street,  New  York. 

He  also  arrested  Billy,  alias  '^'Buck"  Gray,  a  desper- 
ate burglar,  who  swore  he  would  have  the  Captain's  life, 
and  while  being  tried  in  Judge  Massey's  Court  attempt- 
ed to  put  his  threat  into  execution. 

Sergeant  George  W.  Eogers  was  born  in  1828.  He 
joined  the  force  in  1851  and  served  with  credit,  earning 
several  promotions,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
when  he  resigned  and  set  about  raising  a  company  for 
immediate  service.  In  eleven  days  he  had  recruited  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  men  for  the  service,  and  went 
with  them  to  the  front  of  the  conflict  as  captain  of  Com- 
pan}^  A,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy -third  Regiment,  New 
York  Volunteers. 

For  gallant  conduct  Captain  Rogers  was  made  a  ma- 


JAMES  ENNIS, 
Captain. 


BROOKLYN  S  GUARDIANS. 


325 


jor,  and  subsequently  breveted  lieutenant  colonel.  He 
commanded  the  regiment  from  this  time  until  just  prior 
to  General  Lee's  surrender,  and  was  himself  mustered 
out  of  service  on  the  30th  of  October,  1865.  The 
following  year  he  again  joined  the  police  force  and  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Central  Office  Squad. 

In  1882  Sergeant  Rogers  was  transferred  to  the  Xinth 
Precinct,  where  he  has  remained  since.  He  has  a  good 
reputation  as  a  pohce  officer  and  has  effected  many 
important  arrests. 

Sergeant  Richard  Lattey  was  born  in  1822.  He  served 
from  1850  to  1852  on  the  New  York  City  Police  Force 
with  credit,  and  in  the  latter  year  came  to  Brooklyn.  In 
1802  he  was  assigned  to  the  Seventh  Precinct,  and  in 
1869  was  transferred  to  the  Ninth,  of  which  he  v/as  act- 
ing captain  prior  to  Captain  Ennis'  appointment.  His 
record  is  an  admirable  one. 

Sergeant  William  A.  Xelson  was  born  on  July  25,  1837. 
On  February  1,  1868,  he  was  appointed  patrolman  ;  on 
August  29,  1870,  he  was  made  roundsman,  and  on  Sep- 
tember 19,  1879,  he  was  promoted  sergeant.  After  nu- 
merous transfers  he  was  assigned  to  the  Ninth  Pre- 
cinct on  July  16, 1880,  where  he  has  remained  since.  He 
has  been  in  all  the  riots  which  have  taken  place  during 
the  last  nineteen  years,  among  them  those  of  the  car- 
drivers,  longshoremen  etc.,  and  has  or  many  occasions 
distinguished  himself. 

Sergeant  Francis  Stacom  was  born  in  the  year  1846. 
He  was  appointed  as  patrolman  in  1876.  On  June  23d, 
1880,  he  was  made  roundsman  ;  he  was  again  promoted, 
this  time  to  the  sergeantcy,  on  June  8,  1887.  He  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  all  his  men. 


326, 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


The  roundsmen  of  the  Ninth  Precinct  are  Alexander 
J.  Lees  and  Isaac  S.  Tichenor. 

The  detective  of  this  Precinct  is  Charles  Hayes,  his 
companion,  Detective  Kelly,  having  recently  died. 

THE  TENTH  PRECINCT. 

On  the  northwest  corner  of  Bergen  Street  and  Sixth 
Avenue  the  Tenth  Precinct  Station-house  is  situated. 
It  is  a  large  red  brick  structure,  trimmed  with  white 
stone,  of  imposing  appearance  and  of  modern  build. 
Both  the  Mounted  Squad  and  its  commanding  sergeant, 
and  the  foot  squad  and  officers,  find  shelter  within  it  and 
still  have  room  to  spare.  It  is  the  largest  by  far  of  any 
station-house  in  the  city  and  resembles  a  public  building 
more  than  do  any  of  the  others.  Its  interior  is  fitted  in 
keeping  with  its  exterior  appearance.  On  the  ground 
floor  is  the  general  office,  Captain's  private  rooms,  also 
the  bed-room  of  the  commanding  sergeant  of  the  Mounted 
Squad  as  well  as  the  sergeants'  rooms.  The  floors  above 
are  used  mainly  for  sleeping  apartments.  In  the  rear  of 
the  building  is  the  lock-up.  It  contains  the  usual  number 
of  ceUs  and  the  lodge  rooms  above.  To  the  side  of  the 
building  is  the  stable  for  the  horses  of  the  Mounted 
Squad,  in  which  everything  is  as  clean  and  neat  as  in 
a  dwelling  for  human  beings. 

The  Precinct  is  bounded  by  Franklin  Avenue  to  the 
City  Line,  by  the  City  Line  to  Flatbush  Avenue,  by  Flat- 
bush  Avenue  to  Ninth  Avenue,  by  Ninth  Avenue  to  Third 
Street  and  by  Third  Street  to  Gowanus  Canal,  by  the 
Canal  to  Butler  Street,  by  Butler  to  Morris,  by  Morris  to 
Fulton  and  by  Fulton  Street  to  Franklin  Avenue  at  the 
point  or  place  of  beginning. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


327 


Captain  Henry  L.  Jewett  was  bom  in  1S4:3.  His  edu- 
cation he  received  at  an  academy  in  this  State.  On 
April  18,  1861,  at  the  early  age  of  eighteen,  he  responded 
to  his  country's  call  for  troops  by  enlisting  in  the  Third 
New  York  Infantry,  and  served  nearly  four  years.  He 
was  engaged  in  the  Battle  of  Big  Bethel,  went  through 
the  Wilderness,  and  during  the  years  1864  and  1865 
was  under  Grant  in  the  many  engagements  that  took 
place  during  that  time. 

In  1873  he  was  made  drill  captain  at  Headquarters 
and  from  1882  to  1883  had  charge  of  the  Detective  Squad, 
being  Inspector.  188-1  saw  him  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Tenth  Precinct,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. Personally,  Captain  Jewett  is  a  prepossessing 
gentleman  about  six  feet  in  height,  rather  slenderly 
built,  wears  a  light  mustache  and  has  a  refined  counte- 
nance. His  reputation  as  an  officer  has  always  been  ex- 
cellent and  he  is  greatly  esteemed  by  all  his  men.  Not 
only  is  the  Captain  an  admirable  police  officer,  but  also 
a  finely  accomplished  gentleman,  with  an  enthusiastic 
appreciation  of  literature  and  the  fine  arts.  He  has  trav- 
elled much  abroad  and  is  a  good  linguist.  The  Captain 
shines  in  a  social  gathering,  where  his  conversational 
powers  and  refined  wit  make  him  the  most  agreeable  of 
companions.  Nothing  better  illustrates  the  kindliness  of 
his  character  than  his  fondness  for  dumb  animals.  His 
favorite  Newfoundland  dog,  Minnie,  lives  with  him  at 
the  Station-house  and  is  a  four-footed  celebrity. 

She  does  the  honors  for  the  members,  and  has  quite 
an  extensive  acquaintance  among  the  residents  of  the 
"  City  of  Churches."  Minnie  has  quite  a  history,  and  if 
she  were  able  to  relate  all  she  has  seen  and  heard  while 


328 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


attached  to  the  Tenth  "  she  would  doubtless  tell  a  mar- 
vellous tale. 

Minnie  was  ever  an  intelligent  and  observing  dog,  and 
has  always  taken  a  keen  interest  in  the  prisoners  cap- 
tured by  her  more  fortunate  brother  officers.  When  any 
of  the  officers  bring  in  a  prisoner  Minnie  stands  atten- 
tively listening  to  the  sergeant  in  command  taking  the 
prisoner's  pedigree,  and  when  the  sergeant  orders  the  of- 
ficer to  conduct  the  prisoner  to  the  cellar  Minnie  follows 
at  his  heels,  and  does  not  take  her  eyes  off  the  culprit 
until  he  is  safely  lodged  behind  bolts  and  bars.  It  is  re- 
lated that  at  one  time  a  prisoner  appearing  before  the 
rail  suddenly  made  a  dash  for  liberty,  whereupon  Min- 
nie, who  had  been  quietly  watching  what  was  going  on, 
sprang  after  the  escaping  criminal  and  laid  such  tight 
hold  on  the  rear  of  the  fellow's  trousers  that  he  was 
only  too  glad  to  be  released  from  his  dangerous  predica- 
ment, and  quietly  followed  the  officer  to  his  cell. 

To  Captain  Jewett's  friends  Minnie  is  very  sociable, 
but  with  the  prisoners  who  are  brought  in  she  is  very  sus- 
picious and  always  on  her  guard. 

Minnie  "  joined  the  force  "  when  quite  a  puppy  and 
during  her  long  term  of  service  has  learned  many 
tricks.  At  the  command  of  Captain  Jewett  she  will 
march  into  the  captain's  office,  and  taking  his  hat  down 
from  its  place  on  the  wall,  proudly  march  out  with  it  in 
her  mouth  and  give  it  to  her  commander. 

One  of  Minnie's  favorite  pastimes  is  appearing  at  roll 
call,  and  she  always  closes  the  proceedings  with  a  famt 
bark  to  let  the  sergeant  know  that^  she  is  present. 

Minnie  knows  how  to  laugh  with  almost  human  jollity 
and  hugely  enjoys  the  operation.    She  prefers,  however. 


IIEXRY  L.  JEWETT, 

Captain. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  331 

to  laugh  alone,  and  if  any  stranger  essays  to  join  her, 
her  mirth  changes  suddenly  to  wrath,  and  a  deafening 
and  discordant  bark  terminates  the  fun.  Her  only  duty 
now  consists  in  going  after  the  evening  paper,  and  no 
sooner  does  the  newspaper  wagon  turn  the  corner  than 
Minnie  is  aware  of  the  fact  and  immediately  runs  out  to 
meet  it  ;  the  paper  is  put  in  her  mouth,  and  she  marches 
back  to  the  station-house  and  places  her  paper  on  the 
Captain's  desk. 

Sergeant  John  H.  Johnson  was  born  in  1844.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  he  left  school  in  answer  to  his  country's 
call,  and  served  as  scout  through  the  entire  war  under 
Generals  Custer  and  Sheridan.  On  September  19,  1864, 
at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  he  was  wounded  in  the 
chest.  On  December  21,  1865,  he  was  appointed  patrol- 
man. In  1868  he  became  a  roundsman,  and  on  April 
23,  1875,  he  was  promoted  Commanding  Sergeant,  upon 
the  organization  of  the  Mounted  Squad,  the  duties  of 
which  are  described  in  Chapter  XI. 

Personally  the  sergeant  is  a  tall,  handsome,  courteous 
gentleman,  and  when  seated  on  his  dark  bay  horse 

Pasha"  at  the  head  of  his  command,  in  his  neat  and 
well-fitting  uniform,  looks  every  inch  the  gentleman, 
soldier  and  policeman  that  he  is. 

Sergeant  Henry  Metcalf  was  born  in  1843.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  he  enlisted,  on  May  1st, 
1861,  in  the  Sixty-Seventh  New  York,  called  the  First 
Long  Island,  and  served  with  distinction  till  the  close  of 
the  war. 

On  October  29th,  1866,  he  was  appointed  as  patrolman. 
In  1869  he  was  promoted  roundsman  and  in  1876  he  be- 
came a  sergeant.    His  record  is  of  the  best. 


332 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


Sergeant  John  Moro  is  fifty-eight  years  old,  and  is  also 
an  old  soldier  who  served  through  the  entire  war  and 
when  mustered  out  held  a  cajitain's  commission.  He 
then,  in  1866,  became  a  patrolman  and  in  1881  was  pro^ 
moted  roundsman.  He  rose  to  the  sergeantcy  in  1885. 
During  his  long  years  of  service  he  has  always  displayed 
unusual  courage  and  intelligence. 

Sergeant  Thomas  Harold  was  born  in  1826,  and  re- 
ceived his  appointment  as  patrolman  in  1851.  He  be- 
came a  roundsman  in  1879  and  a  sergeant  in  1882.  He 
is  a  good  and  popular  officer. 

Sergeant  James  W.  Lamb  was  born  in  1844.  He 
entered  the  force  as  a  patrolman  in  1867  and  in  1870  rose 
to  the  position  of  sergeant.  He  is  much  esteemed  by  his 
associates. 

The  roundsmen  of  the  Tenth  Precinct  are  John  Dow- 
ner and  Christopher  J.  Doyle. 

The  detectives  attached  to  the  Tenth  are  James  Gr. 
Eeynolds  and  Bartholomew  Curran,  both  of  whom  have 
earned  their  rank  by  meritorious  service.  Detective 
Curran  has  a  clear  knowledge  of  life  in  the  great  cities. 
He  has  a  keen  eye  for  odd  events  and  notices  things  that 
are  seen,  but  not  recognized,  by  everybody  else.  An  ex- 
ample of  this  faculty  is  afforded  by  his  remarks  on  beg- 
gars and  gambling  : 

' '  There  are  not  half  as  many  beggars  in  town  as  there 
used  to  be  in  the  old  days  when  gambling  was  carried 
on  in  the  city.  At  first  sight  it  would  seem  that  there 
was  no  connection  between  the  high-rollers  of  the  farcT- 
table  and  the  tramp  or  beggar  who  ^  braces '  you  for  a 
dime  on  the  street  corner.  And  yet  as  a  matter  of  fact 
half  the  beggars  in  the  world  live  on  gamblers,  and 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  333 

when  you  drive  out  the  gamblers  the  beggars  are  bound 
to  go.  In  the  first  place  the  gamblers  are  a  superstitious 
lot,  and  they  always  try  to  court  fortune  by  giving  freely 
to  beggars.  Then,  again,  the  gamblers  always  live  in 
accord  with  the  old  maxim,  '  Easy  come,  easy  go, '  and 
they  are  never  slow  to  chip  in  to  a  needy  man's  pocket 
instead  of  a  faro  lay-out  or  a  jack-pot.  When  Superin- 
tendent Campbell  began  his  w^ar  on  gamblers  most  of 
them  thought  they  could  continue  if  they  only  changed 
to  some  other  locality.  But  we  were  on  their  new  lay, 
and  w^ere  kept  on  the  go  all  the  time,  running  them 
down  to  see  w-here  they  had  set  up  new  quarters.  We 
frequently  discovered  their  new  homes  by  keeping  an 
eye  on  the  beggars.  You  see  the  gamblers  not  only 
tolerate  beggars,  but  they  actually  encourage  them  to 
come  around  o'nights  for  half  a  dollar. 

When  w^e  drove  the  banks  out  of  a  house  the  proprie- 
tors would  frequently  give  the  beggars  a  tip  as  to  w^here 
the  lay-out  would  next  be  ready  for  business.  Their 
customers  w^ould  not  play  high  if  they  did  not  have  a 
chance  to  give  a  half  a  dollar  to  a  beggar  before  beginn- 
ing to  buck  the  tiger.  The  beggars  never  step  inside 
and  try  their  luck.  Not  much  !  No  gambler  would  ever 
play  against  a  recognized  beggar.  It  is  not  because  the 
knight  of  the  cloth  is  proud,  but  simply  because  he  is 
afraid  of  ill  luck.  I  assisted  in  a  raid  once,  and  while  I 
Avas  watching  a  game  before  the  time  came  to  gobble  up 
the  lay-out,  I  saw  one  of  the  principal  men  abruptly  lay 
down  his  chips  and  walk  out  of  the  room.  I  thought 
the  fellow  was  going  to  cut  and  run  and  followed  him. 
He  Avalked  down  stairs  and  out  of  the  house.  There 
were  two  beggars  on  the  sidewalk.    He  gave  a  half  dol- 


334 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


lar  to  each  and  quickly  walked  back  to  his  game.  He 
had  had  a  streak  of  bad  luck  and  was  trying  to  brighten 
up  his  prospects  by  buying  up  the  good  will  of  two 
beggars.  He  really  was  winning  before  my  associates 
arrived,  when  we  scooped  the  whole  estabhshment." 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 


PRECINCTS  AND  STATION  HOUSES. 

{Continued.) 


Eleventh  Precinct.— Station-house. — Boundaries.— Captain  Dan- 
iel J.  LowERY. — His  Police  Record. — A  Civil  Service  Gradu- 
ate.— Sergeants  Slattery  and  White.— Sergeant  Evans.— 
A  Type  of  the  Soldiek. — Sergeant  Gill.— Life  in  a  Police 
Station. — Practical  Jokes. — Roundsmen  and  Detectives. 

Twelfth  Precinct.— Station-house. — Boundaries. — Captain  Will- 
iam H.  Folk.— An  Able  Detective.— How  He  Captured  a 
Thief.- Sergeant  Gans. — Once  a  Drummer  Boy. — A  Fight  for 
Life. — Sergeant  Sheridan. — Sergeant  Nelsen. — Another 
Drooier  Boy.— Sergeant  Gregory, — Roundsmen  and  Detec 

TIVES. 

THE  ELEVENTH  PRECINCT. 

fN  the  center  of  the  manufacturing  district  of  South 
Brooklyn,  on  the  corner  of  Van  Brunt  and  Seabring 
Streets,  stands  a  four-story  brick  dweUing-house  \vhich 
was  a  tenement  house,  but  since  April  19,  IS 76,  has  been 
the  headquarters  of  the  Eleventh  Precinct.  Off  one 
side  of  the  general  office  is  the  Captain's  private  office — 
a  cosy  little  apartment,  to  the  right  of  which  is  the  ser- 
geant's office,  where  the  Precinct  album  is  kept,  contain- 
ing the  photographs  of  all  the  noted  criminals  brought 
to  justice  through  the  efforts  of  the  officers  of  this 
Precinct. 

The  second  floor  is  given  up  for  a  sitting-room  for  the 
men,  with  an  old  fashioned  stove  in  the  centre,  around 
which  the  old  timers  "  gather  in  the  long  winter  even- 
ings, regaling  their  younger  brother  officers  with  stories 


336 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


of  their  experience  while  patrohng  the  river  front.  The 
Captain's  sleeping  apartments,  a  marvel  of  neatness, 
occupy  the  front  room  on  this  floor.  The  third  floor  is 
fixed  up  with  sleeping  accommodations  for  the  men. 
Eight  large  cells  occupy  the  ground  floor  of  an  exten- 
sion connected  with  the  main  huilding  by  a  covered 
passageway.  The  top  floor  of  this  extension  is  separated 
into  two  lodging  rooms  for  men  and  women  respectively. 

Like  the  Fifteenth  Precinct  the  Station-house  is  entirely 
inadequate  to  accommodate  the  oflicers  and  men.  Some 
time  since  the  Board  of  Aldermen  passed  resolutions  au- 
thorizing the  purchase  of  a  part  of  Grand  or  Hamilton 
Avenue,  near  Graham,  for  the  erection  of  a  new  station, 
but  the  measure  was  vetoed  by  Mayor  Low  on  account  of 
the  high  price  asked  for  the  land  and  its  proximity 
to  the  Fifteenth  Precinct,  notwithstanding  which  the 
officers  are  in  hopes  of  occupying  more  com  .lodious 
quarters  in  the  near  future. 

This  Precinct  is  bounded  by  Sackett  Street  and 
Fourth  Place  on  the  north,  Gowanus  Canal  on  the  west, 
and  on  the  south  and  east  by  the  East  Eiver.  The  neigh- 
borhood abounds  with  all  classes  of  the  rough  element, 
and  the  forty  jjatrolmen  are  compelled  to  be  constantly 
on  the  watch  for  river  thieves  and  roughs  assaulting  the 
sailors  returning  to  their  vessels  in  the  early  morning 
hours  after  a  night  spent  in  New  York. 

Most  of  the  arrests  in  this  Precinct  are  for  intoxication, 
assaults,  burglaries  committed  on  vessels  up  at  the  store 
houses  on  the  water  front  and  for  the  carrying  of  con- 
cealed weapons  l)y  the  floating  population  of  foreign 
sailors. 

Captain  Daniel  J.  Lowery  was  born  in  1846. 


DANIEL  J.  LOWERY, 
Captain. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  ?)?)0 

On  October  ()th,  IS 74:,  he  was  appointed  as  patrolman 
and  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Precinct,  where  he  remained 
until  1878,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  First  Precinct. 
On  May  !^3d,  188-1:,  he  was  promoted  to  roundsman  and 
assigned  to  the  Sixth  Sub,  now  the  Fifteenth  Precinct, 
where  he  remained  until  July  15th,  1885,  when  he  was 
promoted  Sergeant  and  assigned  to  the  Sixteenth  Pre- 
cinct in  Clymer  Street,  E.  D.  From  there  he  was  trans- 
ferred, July,  1886,  to  the  First  Precinct  where  he  remained 
until  Jan.  5th,  1887,  when  he  was  promoted  captain  and 
sent  to  take  command  of  the  Eleventh  Precinct. 

Captain  Lowery  is  the  only  captain  on  the  force  who 
owes  his  promotion  from  patrolman  up  to  captain  to  the 
Civil  Service  Commission. 

Sergeant  Patrick  Slattery  was  born  in  1847.  On  May 
13,  1869,  he  was  appointed  a  patrolman  and  in  1872  he  be- 
came a  roundsman.  On  September  4,  1875,  he  was  as- 
signed to  the  Eleventh  Precinct  as  sergeant. 

Many  notable  arrests  have  been  made  by  Sergeant 
Slattery,  and  he  has  justly  earned  his  excellent  reputa- 
tion. 

Sergeant  James  P.  White  was  born  February  25,  1S58. 
On  January  5,  1876,  he  was  appointed  patrolman,  and 
in  1884  was  made  roundsman. 

He  rose  to  the  rank  of  Sergeant  in  January  of  this 
year  (1887)  and  continues  to  be  the  same  energetic,  hard- 
working officer  that  his  associates  have  always  known. 

Sergeant  James  Evans  was  born  in  1S40.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  he  enlisted  in  the  Forty-fourth  New  York, 
known  as  the  Ellsworth  Avengers. 

Throughout  the  entire  v/ar  he  served  with  brilliant 
courage.    Twice  wounded  and  once  a  prisoner  in  Libby, 


340 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


recovery  of  health  or  freedom  always  saw  him  again  in 
the  field,  and  he  did  not  lay  down  arms  till  the  war  was 
ended.  He  is  a  splendid  type  of  the  rank  and  file  of  the 
Northern  troops.  Entering  police  life  shortly  after  his 
discharge,  he  served  as  a  patrolman  till  1883,  when  he 
became  a  roundsman,  and  in  September,  1886,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  sergeantcy  and  was  assigned  to  the 
Eleventh  Precinct,  where  he  has  remained  since. 

Sergeant  Timothy  Gill  was  born  in  1843.  On  January 
28,  1870,  he  was  appointed  a  patrolman,  and  in  1874, 
four  years  later,  was  made  roundsman,  which  position 
he  held  for  one  year  only,  when  he  was  made  sergeant. 
From  the  time  of  his  appointment  to  the  present  day  he 
has  remained  in  this  Precinct  and  bears  an  excellent  rep- 
utation. 

Sergeant  Gill  gives  a  pleasant  version  of  one  side  of 
police  life  which  is  unknown  to  the  public. 

Life  in  a  Police  Station-house  is  in  many  cases  away 
ahead  of  that  in  a  boarding  school.  ^  Boys  will  be  boys ' 
is  a  very  true  saying,  but  in  after  years,  when  tne 
youth  grows  to  a  man  and  joins  the  police  force,  there  is 
a  good  quantity  of  his  old  frisky  nature  stowed  away 
in  some  remote  corner  of  his  system,  which,  although 
seemingly  dead,  will  assert  itself  with  but  a  small  amount 
of  coaxing. 

''To  see  a  policeman  on  post,  majestically  passing  in 
front  of  some  alderman's  place  of  business,  the  casual 
observer  might  be  led  to  think  he  never  smiled  or  en-  ^ 
joyed  a  bit  of  fun.  That  thought  would  be  a  great  in- 
justice to  the  noble  policeman.  When  he  enters  the 
station-house  and  salutes  the  sergeant  at  the  desk  lie  be- 
comes another  man  altogether.    On  reaching  the  stairs 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


341 


leading  to  the  sleeping  apartment  he  bounds  up  two 
steps  at  a  time,  and  with  his  club  and  belt  in  his  hand 
howls  out  '  hello  boys  I ' 

If  the  hour  be  midnight  or  thereabouts,  he  sounds 
his  approach  just  as  loudly.  Within  the  r<  tom  the  officers 
are  sleeping  on  their  little  beds,  some  soundly,  others 
dozing,  with  now  and  then  a  couple  or  three  dreaming  of 
some  terrible  crime. 

^^If  Oliver  Optic  or  the  author  of  Jack  Harkaway 
would  look  into  the  patrolmen's  quarters  at  some  pre- 
cinct station-house  now  and  then  he  would  find  mate- 
rial enough  to  fill  a  volume,  fully  as  interesting  as  any  of 
the  boys'  pranks  he  tells  about,  only  the  fact  of  big  burly 
fellows,  as  policemen  in  Brooklyn  must  be,  being  the  he- 
roes would  sound  ever  so  much  more  humorous. 
Imagine  a  room  in  which  eighteen  or  twenty  beds, 
mostly  aU  holding  a  policeman,  stand  regularly  about. 
Here  and  there  a  pair  of  dumb-beUs  or  Indian  clubs. 
About  the  waUs  a  line  of  closets  or  lockers  with  half  the 
doors  standing  open,  on  which  hang  rubber  coats.  Con- 
veniently near  this  or  that  man's  couch  stand  a  pair  of 
rubber  boots,  while  here  and  there  a  chair  stands  await- 
ing an  occupant.  Three  officers  enter.  They  are  not 
sleepy,  they  have  been  in  bed  at  home  for  seven  or  eight 
hours  and  feel  like  having  some  fun.  '  Wonder  how  long 
Larry's  been  asleep,'  says  one  of  the  new-comers  as  he 
gazes  on  a  manly  form  nestling  in  the  arms  of  Morpheus. 

'  Dmmo,  '  says  the  second.  '  Let's  wake  him  up 
and  see.' 

^  Hold  on  a  minute,'  remarks  the  third  ;  'don't  startle 
him,  it  might  injure  his  nerves.  Awake  him  system- 
atically. ' 


342 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


"''On  this  suggestion  the  trio  hunt  up  a  penny,  heat  it 
red  hot  and  after  having  laid  a  sheet  of  wet  tissue  paper 
on  the  sleeping  man's  arm  they  surmount  it  with  the 
torrid  legal  tender.  The  flesh  is  not  even  scorched, 
but  the  intense  warmth  of  the  cent  frequently  has  a 
tendency  to  make  the  victim  think  he  is  visiting  Pluto. 
At  any  rate  he  awakens,  but  don't  get  angry,  because  he 
knows  it  wouldn't  do  any  good.  He  simply  remarks, 
'  Ah,  that's  mean, '  and  after  rubbing  his  eyes  a  little 
while  says  'there's  Jim  over  there,  let's  get  him  up.' 

''  A  cork  is  found,  in  which  are  stuck  half  a  dozen  or 
eight  sulphur  matches  in  one  end,  and  in  the  other  two 
are  fitted  to  form  a  V,  which  is  gently  placed  on  James's 
nose.  The  matches  are  lighted  and  James  is  rudely 
awakened  by  a  rap  on  the  shoulder.  He  observes  the 
blue  flame  in  close  proximity  to  his  optics  and  imagines 
he  is  with  Dante  and  Virgil  in  the  regions  below.  The 
matches  are  cast  aside  and  James  makes  a  few  remarks 
on  the  subject,  which  arouse  many  of  his  sleeping  com- 
panions. They  keep  quiet,  however.  The  five  awake 
get  their  heads  together  to  decipher  another  system  of 
torture.  Whatever  project  they  have  in  consideration 
is  never  completed,  because  the  moment  the  debate  is 
just  becoming  interesting  two  pillows,  a  rubber  boot  and 
a  pair  of  trowsers  are  hurled  against  them  by  the  sup- 
posed sleepers.  Just  sixty  seconds  later  the  air  is  filled 
with  flying  missiles,  f  rom  a  collar  button  to  a  chair,  and 
not  until  word  is  received  from  downstairs  that  the 
ceiling  is  about  to  fall  do  the  merry  guardians  of  the 
peace  suspend  operations.  If  the  scene  could  be  trans- 
ported to  the  stage  of  some  theatre  it  would  pack  the 
house  nightly.    Excepting  the  three  officers  just  arrived 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


343 


from  home,  the  majority  of  the  participants  in  the  rum- 
pus are  simply  clad  in  one  sock  and  a  helmet.  Now  and 
then  a  man  will  he  found  who  has  succeeded  in  getting 
into  a  portion  of  his  trowsers,  hut  it  is  very  seldom.  They 
don't  have  time,  if  they  wish  to  avoid  heing  struck  by  a 
bootjack  or  night  stick. 

'  I'd  like  to  find  the  man  who  put  these  crackers  in 
my  bed, '  says  a  voice  over  in  the  corner. 

'  I'm  with  you,'  remarks  another.  Somebody 
had  placed  about  a  pound  of  crackers  in  the  two  beds. 

' '  This  little  piece  of  pleasantary  was  once  traced  to  a 
well-known  captain,  then  patrolman,  by  finding  the 
name  on  the  crackers  to  correspond  with  a  factory  on  his 
beat  the  evening  previous. 

^^One  wintry  morning  some  years  ago  there  was  a 
large  fire  in  the  First  Precinct,  and  the  men  were  on 
duty  (watching  the  flames)  the  entire  day.  Shortly 
after  midnight  they  returned  to  the  station-house  and 
'turned  in.'  One  of  the  men  talked  freely  in  his  sleep, 
and  on  the  night  in  question  he  spoke  graphically  on 
the  consequence  of  the  station-house  catching  fire. 

''  He  argued  loud  and  long.  The  other  men,  tired  as 
they  were,  could  not  sleep,  so  to  please  their  entertainer, 
they  decided  to  have  a  little  fire  just  for  his  benefit. 

''Some  paper,  several  boxes  of  matches  and  an  old  hair 
brush  were  placed  in  a  rubber  boot,  and  so  as  not  to  burn 
the  floor  the  whole  business  was  put  into  an  iron  pail 
and  set  by  the  talkative  man's  bedside.  A  hglited 
match  was  dropped  in  among  the  other  matches,  and  in 
less  than  two  minutes  the  rubber  began  to  make  its 
presence  appreciated.  The  sleep-talker  detected  the 
odor,  awoke,  saw  the  flames,  gathered  his  trousers  and 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


one  shoe,  and  gained  the  street  in  the  unbroken  record 
of  four  seconds. 

Of  course,"  concluded  Sergeant  Gill,  'Hhis  is  but 
one  phase  of  station-house  life,  which  has  its  serious 
side,  I  assure  you." 

The  roundsmen  of  the  Eleventh  Precinct  are  Daniel 
McMiller  and  John  McMahon. 

The  detectives  of  this  precinct  are  James  O'Rourke 
and  John  Connor.  Both  have  risen  from  the  ranks  by 
faithful  service. 

THE  TWELFTH  PRECINCT. 

In  one  of  a  row  of  dilapidated  red  brick  tenement 
houses,  with  stores  underneath,  on  the  south  side  of 
Fulton  Street,  just  above  Schenectady  Avenue,  and  in 
appearance  resemblingan  oyster  saloon,  minus  the  chairs, 
more  than  anything  else,  is  situated  the  Twelfth  Pre- 
cinct Station-house. 

The  office  is  on  the  ground  floor  and  is  raised  but  one 
step  above  the  level  of  the  sidewalk.  An  ordinary  store 
window  gives  light,  and  large  blue  shades  hide  the  inte- 
rior from  the  public  gaze.  Just  back  of  the  office,  and  in 
the  rear  of  the  house,  is  a  neat,  tidy  little  apartment, 
which  is  the  Captain's  sleeping  room  and  office  com- 
bined, furnished  with  a  small  bedstead,  a  few  chairs,  a 
washstand  and  table.  To  the  rear  of  the  house  is  the 
yard,  and  just  off  the  Captain's  room  is  the  lock-up — a 
square  extension,  connected  with  the  house  by  a  covered 
passageway,  and  containing  three  cells.  On  the  floor 
above  are  the  sergeants'  sleeping  quarters  and  the  com- 
mon sitting  room.  The  two  next  floors,  as  well  as  th<=> 
two  floors  of  the  house  adjoining,  are  devoted  to  the  sleep- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  345 

,  ,01 

ing  apartments  and  dressing  rooms  of  the  men.  Taking 
it  altogether,  it  is  no  credit  to  the  city,  and  is  Hable  at  any 
time  to  be  condemned  by  the  Commissioner. 

The  Precinct  is  bounded  on  the  north,  beginning  at  the 
corner  of  Frankhn  Avenue  and  Fulton  Street,  and  run- 
ning in  a  northerly  direction  along  Fulton  Street  to  Mc- 
Donough,  thence  along  McDonough  Street  in  the  same 
direction  as  far  as  Broadway,  where  the  westerly  boun- 
dary line  begins.  Thence  along  Broadway  in  a  south- 
westerly direction  to  the  city  line,  the  beginning  of  the 
sout westerly  boundary  line.  Along  the  city  line,  which 
divides  the  town  of  Flatbush  from  the  city,  in  an  easterly 
direction  until  it  intersects  or  meets  Franklin  Avenue, 
from  which  point  Franklin  Avenue,  running  in  a  north- 
westerly direction,  forms  the  western  boundary  line. 

This  Precinct  was  formerly  known  as  the  Tenth  Sub- 
Precinct.  It  is  a  full  precinct,  and  like  all  such  precincts 
its  force  consists  of  a  captain,  four  sergeants,  two  detect- 
ives, two  roundsmen,  thirty-five  patrolmen  and  two 
door-keepers,  a  total  of  forty-six  all  told. 

It  is  a  well-settled  district.  It  was  the  resort  and 
headquarters  of  the  famous  ^^Noto  Charlie "  gang,  a 
crowd  of  desperadoes  and  blackguards,  but  thanks  to  the 
vigilance  of  the  police  and  an  energetic  captain  it  was 
soon  rid  of  them. 

Its  captain,  William  H.  Folk,  was  born  June  24,  1837. 
He  is  a  son  of  ex-superintendent  John  S.  Folk,  the  father 
of  the  police  force  and  one  of  the  finest  disciplinarians  in 
its  history. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was  appointed  clerk  to  the 
Chief  of  Pohce,  on  the  1st  of  May  1S5G,  long  before  the 
Metropolitan  Police  system  was  established. 


346 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


In  this  position  he  became  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  management  and  workings  of  the  force.  In  1858, 
two  years  later,  he  was  made  patrolman  of  the  Metro- 
politan Police  Force,  and  detailed  to  the  clerical  and  de- 
tective duties  around  the  Central  Office.  Here  he  worked 
faithfully  and  well  until  1862,  when  receiving  a  call  to 
accept  the  adjutancy  of  the  Metropolitan  Regiment,  af- 
terwards known  as  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-third 
New  York  Volunteers,  he  left  the  force  and  remained 
with  the  Regiment  for  three  years,  earning  a  high  repu- 
tation for  gallantry  and  intelligence.  October  30,  1865, 
he  was  mustered  out,  but  returned  shortly  afterwards, 
owing  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He  came  back  to  Brook- 
lyn when  peace  was  restored,  and  was  reappointed  to  the 
police  force  and  detailed  to  work  in  and  around  the  Cen- 
tral Office.  On  June  24,  1881,  he  was  appointed  sergeant 
and  two  days  later,  owing  to  a  vacancy,  was  made  cap- 
tain. He  is  a  man  well  liked  by  the  people  in  his  Pre- 
cinct ;  as  a  captain  he  is  thoroughly  respected  by  his 
men,  and  as  a  detective  has  proved  himself  as  brave  and 
skilful  an  officer  as  there  is  in  the  Brooklyn  Police  Force. 

Long  Island  fairs  were  at  one  time  a  paradise  for  the 
light-fingered  gentry,  and  for  years  the  Brooklyn  Police 
Department  has  been  in  the  habit  of  sending  detectives 
to  the  Long  Island  and  country  fairs. 

These  gatherings  are  generally  attended  by  the  sharp- 
ers from  the  metropolis,  with  whose  arts  the  rural 
constabulary  are  unable  to  cope.  The  result  of  the  de- 
tectives' efforts  to  protect  respectable  persons  against  this 
class  has  generally  been  satisfactory.  In  accordance 
with  this  custom,  one  fine  Wednesday  morning  in  1877 
found  detectives  Folk  and  Corwin  on  their  way  to  one 


WILLIAM  IL  FOLK, 
Captain. 


4 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


349 


of  these  gatherings,  at  the  Riverhead  Agricultural  Fair 
in  Suffolk  County. 

After  a  short  ride  they  reached  Riverhead  about  noon, 
and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  Griffin  House,  where  they 
ordered  dinner.  Soon  after  taking  their  seats  at  the  table, 
a  man  and  woman  of  fine  bearing  entered  and  were  given 
seats  at  the  same  table  with  the  detectives.  The  man 
was  about  thirty-two  years  of  age  and  his  companion 
about  twenty -five.  They  were  well-dressed,  and  each 
wore  a  gold  watch,  while  the  woman  wore  valuable  dia- 
monds and  earrings. 

To  an  ordinary  observer  they  would  seem  to  be  a  well- 
to-do  couple  of  respectability.  Scarcely,  however,  had 
they  sat  down  before  Corwin  whispered  to  Folk:  ^^Ibe- 
live  they  are  crooked  people." 

Folk  gave  an  acquiescing  nudge,  and  from  that  time  on 
they  never  once  missed  sight  of  the  couple.  An  examina- 
tion of  the  hotel  register  showed  that  the  couple  were 
known  as  James  E.  Richardson  and  wife,  of  New  York. 
This  was  apparently  all  right,  but  the  detectives  were  not 
satisfied.  They  followed  the  couple  to  the  grounds,  but 
failed  to  discover  anything  to  confirm  their  suspicions. 
The  next  morning  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richardson  entered  the 
fair  at  a  quarter  to  eleven  o'clock,  and  at  once  proceeded 
to  the  main  building. 

Folk  and  Corwin  were  at  their  heels  keeping  them  in 
sight.  They  soon  saw  all  they  wanted  to,  and  when, 
finally,  Mr.  Richardson  left  the  building,  Folk  was  after 
him,  leaving  Corwin  to  attend  to  the  woman.  Suddenly 
Richardson  felt  his  coat  collar  grasped  by  a  strong  hand, 
and  turning  saw  Folk  ;  they  were  strangers  to  each  other, 
but  when  Folk  quietly  said  in  thieves  parlance  '^give 


350 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


me  that  leather,"  the  gentleman  pickpocket  wilted  and 
without  a  word  placed  the  pocket-book,  containing  ninety- 
nine  cents,  in  the  officer's  hand.  Meanwhile,  Corwin  had 
reached  Mrs.  Eichardson  just  in  time  to  seize  her  hand 
when  it  was  being  thrust  into  a  lady's  pocket  ;  he  quiet- 
ly led  her  out  and  joined  Folk.  While  the  officers  were 
taking  their  prisoners  to  the  Eiverhead  Jail  the  man 
handed  Folk  a  second  pocket-book,  which  was  found  to 
contain  twelve  dollars.  Arrived  at  the  jail,  the  man  was 
searched,  and  in  his  possession  was  found  fifty-four  dol- 
lars in  bad  money,  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  in 
Canadian  money,  two  excursion  tickets  from  New  York 
to  Montreal,  sixty  shares  of  the  Union  Pacific  Eailroad, 
face  value  six  thousand  dollars,  all  made  out  in  the  name 
of  George  W.  Lyons.  There  were  also  four  hundred  and 
sixty  shares  of  the  defunct  Boston,  Hartford  and  Erie 
Eailroad.  The  prisoners  insisted  that  they  were  man 
and  wife.  The  detectives4hen  took  them  before  Justice 
Ben j  amine,  the  complaint  of  larceny  from  the  person 
was  made,  and  they  were  committed  to  jail  until  the 
following  morning  for  an  examination.  The  detectives 
then  returned  to  the  fair  and  ascertained  that  the  pocket- 
books  had  been  stolen  from  three  ladies  who  were  attend- 
ing the  fair.  The  examination  was  held  the  next  morn- 
ing, resulting  in  the  prisoners  being  committed  to  await 
the  action  of  the  Grand  Jury.  The  detectives  then  went 
to  New  York  to  endeavor  to  ascertain  the  whereabouts 
of  the  owner  of  the  stock  recovered.  The  evidence  was 
such  that  upon  the  testimony  of  the  detectives  the  fair 
grounds  were  rid  of  this  engaging  couple  for  some  time. 

Sergeant  Edward  A.  Gans  was  born  in  1849. 
At  the  early  age  of  fourteen    he  entered  the  army 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


as  druiniiier  boy.  Having  served  in  that  capacity  for 
eight  years,  he  was  honorably  discharged,  and  in 
IS 72  he  was  appointed  to  the  pohce  force,  when  he 
became  one  of  the  first  of  the  Mounted  Squad  of  Brook- 
lyn. This  position  he  occupied  until  1879,  when  he  was 
made  roundsman,  and  two  years  later  was  promoted  to 
his  present  rank.  Sergeant. 

During  his  life  on  the  force  he  has  had  many  close 
calls,  but  while  engaged  in  the  capture  of  one  Jefferson, 
a  colored  murderer,  he  was  about  as  near  dead  as  one 
can  pleasantly  be.  The  murderer  was  discovered  hiding 
in  the  cellar  of  an  old  factory  on  the  corner  of  Park 
Place  and  Buffalo  Avenue,  two  blocks  away  from  the 
place  where,  forty-eight  hours  since,  he  had  treated  his 
brother,  his  mistress  and  his  mother  to  two  loads  of 
buckshot,  killing  his  mother  and  a  stranger  instantly, 
and  wounding  the  girl  and  his  brother.  The  girl,  how- 
ever, thanks  to  her  alertness  in  climbing  over  a  fence, 
succeeded  in  eluding  him  and  escaped  with  her  life. 
She  was  the  cause  of  the  tragedy,  infideHty  on  her  part 
leading  to  it.  Although  known  to  be  armed  and  pre- 
pared to  offer  desperate  assistance  against  arrest.  Ser- 
geant Gans,  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  jumped  into  the  cellar 
in  the  dark  and  engaged  himself  in  a  hand  to  hand  en- 
counter. After  a  fearful  struggle  for  life,  during  which 
time  the  murderer  attempted  to  shoot  the  officer,  and 
failing  in  this,  attemped  suicide,  he  was  at  last  secured 
and  put  in  jail,  and  a  short  while  afterwards  paid  the 
penalty  of  the  crime  with  his  life. 

Sergeant  John  Sheridan  was  born  on  the  2ith  of  June, 
18-1:2.  He  was  associated  with  the  police  force  in  IStU.  He 
became  sergeant  six  years  later. 


352 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


He  has  served  for  twenty-three  years,  eleven  of  them 
in  the  old  Tenth  Precinct,  and  the  remainder  in  the 
Twelth. 

Sergeant  Henry  C.  Nelsen  was  born  in  1847.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  enlisted  as  drummer  boy  of  the  159th 
New  York  Volunteers,  apd  served  with  them  for  three 
years  and  two  months — until  the  close  of  the  war. 

On  November  19th,  1868,  he  received  his  appointment 
to  the  Metropolitan  Police  Force.  He  was  appointed 
acting  roundsman  December  6th,  1877,  and  on  February 
2d,  1879,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  roundsman, 
and  on  June  25th,  1881,  he  received  his  sergeant's  badge. 

Sergeant  William  Gregory  was  born  on  July  24,  1839. 
He  was  appointed  on  the  police  force  in  1862.  He  served 
till  June  1,  1865,  when  he  resigned.  He  was  again  ap- 
pointed to  the  police  on  November  16,  1867.  On  April  26, 
1873  he  was  made  roundsman,  and  on  August  22,  1873 
was  promoted  to  sergeant. 

The  roundsmen  attached  to  the  precinct  are  Peter  J. 
Barry  and  Francis  McGrath,  two  faithful  and  zealous 
officers. 

The  detectives  are  John  O'Neill  and  Charles  H.  Bedell, 
two  energetic  members  of  the  force. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


PRECINCTS  AND  STATION  HOUSES. 


{Continued.) 

Thirteenth  Precikct.  —  Boundaries.  —  Gent:ral  Character.— 
Station-house. — Captain  Thomas  L.  Druhan.  —  His  Record 
ON  the  Force. — Sergeant  Ashton. — A  Volunteer  Soldier. — 
Sergeants  B.abcock,  Gorman  and  Smith. — Detectives  and 
Roundsmen. 

Fourteenth  Precinct. — Station-house. — Boundaries.  —  Evergreen 
Cemetery. — Captain  James  Dunn. — His  Police  Career.— Patchen 
Avenue  Burglars. — The  Captain's  Popularity. — Citizens'  Testi- 
MONAL. — The  Buck-Billy-Goat. — Sergeants  Rudd  and  Don- 
AGHY, — Sergeant  Buckholz. —  A  War  Veteran. — Sergeant 
Nicholson.  —The  Roundsmen. — Detective  Anderson. 

THE  THIRTEENTH  PRECINCT. 

The  Thirteenth  Precinct  was  at  one  time  a  great 
resort  for  crooks  and  cut-throats,  but  of  late  years  it  has 
been  transformed  into  an  orderly,  law-abiding  neighbor- 
hood. It  is  bounded  by  Myrtle  Avenue  to  Franklin  Ave- 
nue, to  Jefferson  Street,  to  Irving  Street,  to  Flushing 
Avenue,  to  Bushwick  Avenue,  to  Yeret  Street,  to  Gra- 
ham Avenue,  to  Seigel  Street,  to  Graham  Avenue,  to 
Leonard  Street,  to  Boerum  Street,  to  Broadway,  to 
Hewes,  to  Bedford  Avenue,  to  Flushing  Avenue,  to 
Franklin  Avenue  and  back  to  Myrtle  Avenue. 

It  is  in  most  part  a  tenement -house  district,  inhabi- 
ted by  hard  working  people  who  find  emiDloyment  in  the 
many  factories  and  breweries  located  in  the  Precinct. 
It  comprises  portions  of  the  Sixteenth,  Eighteenth, 


354 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Nineteenth,  Twenty-first  and  Seventh  wards,  and  boasts 
of  containing  more  breweries  than  any  other  Precinct 
in  the  city,  seven  in  number.  There  are  also  five  large 
hat  factories.  Othrr  factories,  where  articles  of  every 
descrij)tion  are  manufactured,  are  found  in  sufficient 
number  to  make  the  Precinct  noted  for  its  industries. 

The  Station-house  in  Bartlett  Street  and  Flushing 
Avenue  is  a  very  poor  building  indeed.  Much  room 
is  lost  on  account  of  its  triangular  shape,  and  the  sleep- 
ing apartments,  which  accommodate  six  persons,  are 
said  not  to  contain  sufficient  breathing-space  for  three. 
Energetic  efforts  are  being  made  by  Commissioner 
Carroll  to  better  the  state  of  affairs. 

Captain  Thomas  L.  Druhan,  commander  of  the  Thir- 
teenth Precinct,  is  a  man  of  great  ability  and  is  well 
versed  in  police  tactics,  having  attained  his  present  posi- 
tion through  a  competitive  examination  of  the  sergeants 
of  the  force.  As  a  detective  he  had  an  excellent  record, 
made  many  important  arrests  and  secured  a  great  num- 
ber of  convictions  for  every  crime  on  record  excepting 
murder.  Twice  he  has  been  highly  complimented  for 
his  good  arrests,  and  has  a  right  to  feel  proud  of  himself 
and  the  position  he  so  well  fills.  He  was  born  on  May 
18th,  1844. 

In  1862  he  enhsted  in  the  Sixty-ninth  New  York  Vol- 
unteers, a  three  months  regiment,  and  remained  with 
them  until  the  expiration  of  the  time  of  service.  Upon 
his  return  to  Brooklyn,  he  enlisted  in  the  Sixteenth  Ne\v; 
York  Heavy  Artillery  and  remained  at  the  front  until 
the  end  of  the  war.  He  was  appointed  on  the  force  Oc- 
tober 10th,  1870,  just  after  the  Metropolitan  system  had 
been  repealed.    In  August,  1875,  he  was  made  rounds- 


THOMAS  L.  DRUHAN, 
Captain. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


man,  and  in  March  of  the  following  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed detective.  March  ITth,  1876,  he  was  appointed 
captain  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Thir- 
teenth Precinct,  over  which  he  has  since  ably  preserved 
peace. 

Sergeant  James  M.  Ashton  was  born  forty-nine  years 
ago.  He  served  in  the  Seventy-ninth  New  York  Volun- 
teers during  the  first  part  of  the  war,  and  immediately 
after  his  return  obtained  an  appointment  on  the  police 
force,  July  3,  1861. 

He  was  made  sergeant  January  3d,  1863.  On  June  10th, 
IS  TO,  he  was  legislated  out  of  office,  but  on  February  2d, 
eight  years  later,  he  was  again  appointed  patrolman. 
On  January  3d,  1883,  he  was  again  raised  to  the  dignity 
of  sergeant  and  sent  to  the  Thirteenth  Precinct,  where 
he  has  since  remained. 

Sergeant  Lucien  C.  Babcock  was  born  in  1810.  He 
entered  the  ranks  of  the  patrolmen  in  1879,  and  after 
passing  through  the  grade  of  roundsman  became  a  ser- 
geant in  1880.  His  twenty  years  of  service  have  been 
entirely  to  his  credit,  and  he  is  to-day  much  respected 
for  his  experience  and  ability. 

Sergeant  Hugh  F.  Gorman  is  thirty-seven  years  of  age, 
and  became  a  patrolman  in  1870.  He  resigned  in  1874 
to  enter  the  New  York  force,  but  resumed  service  in 
Brooklyn  in  1878.  He  was  promoted  to  roundsman  in 
1879  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  sergeant  on  January  8th, 
1887.  He  is  an  excellent  officer  and  has  done  yeoman 
service  in  the  capture  of  criminals. 

Sergeant  Richard  B.  G.  Smith  was  born  in  1837.  In 
1866  he  was  appointed  a  patrolman  and  assumed  the 
duties  of  a  sergeant  in  1870.    He  has  seen  nuich  active 


358 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


duty,  and  has  arrested  hundreds  of  law-breakers  in  the 
commission  of  their  unlawful  w^ork.  He  is  noted  for  his 
considerate  kindness  to  prisoners. 

The  detectives  attached  to  the  Thirteenth  Precinct 
are  John  Brady  and  Laurence  Delahanty.  Both  began 
police  life  as  patrolmen  and  received  promotion  for 
merit. 

The  roundsmen  of  this  Precinct  are  Bernard  J.  Hayes 
and  James  Eyan. 

THE  FOURTEENTH  PRECINCT. 

The  station-house  of  the  Fourteenth  is  an  old-fash- 
ioned, two-story,  square  wooden  building,  with  large  airy 
rooms,  and  surrounded  by  a  large  garden  laid  out  into 
flower  beds,  having  plenty  of  shade,  owing  to  the  numer- 
ous trees  in  it.  The  office,  the  Captain's  sitting-room 
and  bed-room,  the  men's  sitting-room  and  sergeants' 
room  are  all  on  the  ground  floor.  The  floor  above  is  de- 
voted entirely  to  the  sleeping  apartments  of  the  men. 
In  the  rear  of  the  building,  situated  in  the  back  yard,  is 
a  low  one-story  extension,  built  of  brick  and  containing 
six  cells.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  of  plenty  of  yard, 
and  to  all  appearance  plenty  of  light,  these  ceUs  seem  to 
be  very  dark  indeed.  In  July  of  this  year,  however,  new 
quarters  are  to  be  occupied  by  the  force.  Their  future 
home  consists  of  a  magnificent  building  now  almost  com- 
pleted, and  in  addition  to  the  force  already  on  the  Pre- 
cinct, a  mounted  squad  is  to  be  added  to  it.  At  present, 
the  want  of  accommodation  for  the  men  keeps  the  force 
very  small  indeed. 

The  Precinct,  which  is  probably  the  largest  in  the  city, 
is  but  very  thinly  settled  and  covers  an  immense  area. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  boundary  hne  between 
Ne\vtown  and  Brooklyn,  on  the  South  by  the  Evergreen 
Cemetery,  Broadway  and  McDonough  Street,  on  the 
west  by  Stuyvesant  Avenue  and  on  the  north  by  Jeffer- 
son Street  from  Stuyvesant  Avenue  to  the  city  hne. 

Many  are  the  funeral  processions  which  the  officers  of 
this  Precinct  must  guard  as  they  wend  their  way  to 

The  Evergreens,"  the  beautiful  City  of  the  Dead.  Its 
grassy  plots  and  stately  monuments,  its  perfumed  flower 
beds  and  sanded  walks  are  daily  the  scene  of  the  last  sad 
rites  that  love  can  offer  to  death.  But  if  the  beauties  of 
nature  and  art  can  in  any  way  mitigate  the  sorrow  of 
those  afflicted,  ^'  The  Evergeens"  Cemetery  leaves  naught 
to  be  desired. 

The  smiling  countenance  and  imposing  figure  of  Cap- 
tain James  Dunn  are  well-known  to  every  man,  woman 
and  child  in  the  Fourteenth  Precinct. 

Born  on  May  3,  1838,  this  poj)ular  officer  came  to 
Brooklyn  when  very  young  and  attended  the  city  pubhc 
school.  His  friends  urged  him  to  go  on  the  police  force 
in  1866,  and  on  August  23d  he  received  an  appointment 
as  a  patrolman  and  was  placed  on  the  roll  of  the  Forty- 
second — now  the  Second  Precinct. 

On  June  11,  ISTO,  his  popularity  forced  him  over 
several  roundsmen,  and  he  was  made  sergeant  and 
transferred  to  the  Fourteenth  Precinct,  then  the  Ninth 
Sub.  As  Acting-Captain,  on  July  11,  1875,  he  superin- 
tended the  arrest  of  the  Porter  and  Irving  gang  of 
Patchen  Avenue  burglars,  in  the  arrest  of  which  Captain 
Murphy  of  the  Eighth  Precinct — then  a  detective  under 
Sergeant  Dunn — distinguished  himself  as  has  been  else- 
where related  in  this  work.      Billy  "  Porter,  Johnnie" 


360 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Irving,  "  Mrs. "  Porter  and  Irving's  sister  were  living  in 
luxury  in  a  lawn-surrounded  summer  residence  on 
Patchen  Avenue.  Detective  Murphy  identified  the  Pre- 
cinct's new  neighbors,  and  under  the  direction  of  Captain 
Dunn  succeeded  in  arresting  and  breaking  up  one  of  the 
most  notorious  gangs  of  bank  burglars,  panel  thieves 
and  ^'crooks"  in  general  that  ever  infested  a  respect- 
able community.  Porter,  Irving  and  Draper  were  con- 
nected with  the  Northampton  Bank  robbery,  and  were 
likened  as  experts  next  to  Scott  and  Dunlap,  who  died 
while  serving  a  long  imprisonment  for  this  extensive 
Massachusetts  burglary.  At  first  Draper  could  not  be 
identified  until  Bob  "  Pinkerton  came  over  from  New 
York  at  Captain  Dunn'^suggestion,  and  revealed  him  as 
"  Shang  "  Draper,  the  old  King  of  Panel  Thieves,"  a 
man  who  had,  in  his  time,  made  and  lost  several  for- 
tunes in  his  nefarious  following  and  who,  at  the  time  of 
his  arrest,  had  been  obliged  to  resort  to  a  picayune 
retail  store-robbery  to  keep  body  and  soul  together. 
Draper  is  still  alive  and  is  a  somewhat  reformed  man. 
He  keeps  out  of  the  hands  of  the  police,  but  his  liquor 
saloon  on  Sixth  Avenue  is  said  to  be  frequently  under 
pohce  surveillance.  Captain  Dunn  received  much  credit 
for  the  good  work  in  the  gang's  arrest,  and  when  it  was 
known  that  ^' Shang"  Draper  was  one  of  the  ^'birds'' 
taken,  Dunn  and  Murphy  were  congratulated  on  all  sides. 

The  popularity  of  the  Captain  with  the  inhabitants  of 
his  Precinct  is  unbounded.  He  is  looked  upon  as  every- 
body's friend,  and  this  feeling  found  graceful  expression 
on  December  17th,  1885,  when  he  was  presented  by  the 
citizens  of  the  Fourteenth  with  a  magnificent  diamond 
stud,  and  a  solid  gold  badge  suitably  inscribed. 


JAMES  DUXN, 
Captain. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS . 


363 


Captain  Dunn  preserves  strict  discipline  in  his  com- 
mand, but  he  is  obhged  to  confess  that  one  of  the 
"officers"  of  the  Fourteenth  Precinct  is  a  privileged 
character,  inasmuch  as  he  is  not  compelled  by  the  Com- 
missioner to  wear  the  regulation  uniform,  nor  is  he 
liable  to  the  reprimands  of  Inspector  McLaughlin  in  his 
tours  of  inspection.  He  is  also  exonerated  from  regular 
patrol  duty.  Singular  as  it  may  seem,  he  wears  a  com- 
plete suit  of  spotless  white,  and  Captain  Dunn  blushing- 
ly  acknowledges  that  he  never  saw  him  in  a  change  of 
raiment.  There  have  been  times  when  this  "official " — 
Captain  Dunn  hesitatingly  confesses — has  been  seen 
in  such  a  deplorable  and  dirt-begrimed  condition  that 
had  it  been  any  other  of  his  command  he  would  most 
certainly  have  been  fined  and  possibly  dismissed,  but 
somehow  or  other  the  "officer'' in  question  seems  to 
exert  so  much  influence  over  Captain  Dunn  that  he 
is  permitted  to  do  about  as  he  pleases,  without  suffering 
any  of  the  prescribed  penalties.  He  rejoices  in  the 
name  of  "Billy  "and  was  found  by  the  Captain,  one 
bleak  wintry  night  several  years  ago,  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  city,  half  hidden  in  the  snow.  His  appearance  in 
every  particular  is  the  same  now  as  on  that  night 
when  Captain  Dunn  rescued  him  fi'om  an  untimely 
death,  except  that  lines  of  care  and  age  line  his  classic 
features,  and  hirsute  appendages  adorn  his  expressive 
chin.  Although  this  character  is  a  mute,  never  having 
known  the  power  of  speech,  he  is  nevertheless  as  vigilant 
in  the  performance  of  his  duties  as  his  more  fortunate 
brothers.  He  will  not  carry  a  stick,  but  depends  en- 
tirely upon  natural  weapons  in  time  of  danger.  Unlike 
his  superior  officers  he  walks  on  four  legs.    He  is  a 


364 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


buck-billy-goat,  and  his  horns  are  the  pride  of  the 
officers  of  the  Fourteenth. 

No  longer  is  Billy  compelled  to  subsist  on  tin  cans 
and  other  indigestible  food,  but  is  served  his  three 
square  meals  a  day  as  regularly  as  any  of  the  officers 
whose  Precinct  he  honors  by  being  a  member.  His  only 
duty  now  consists  in  guarding  the  orchard  surround- 
ing the  Station-house  from  the  ravages  of  the  all-terrible 
"small  boys,"  and  so  well  does  he  perform  his  assigned 
duty  that  the  shrubbery  and  grass  surrounding  the 
building  are  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Sergeant  John  H.  Rudd  was  born  in  1830.  He  went 
on  the  force  in  1859  as  a  patrolman,  and  on  December 
4:th,  1885,  became  Sergeant  after  duly  passing  through 
the  grade  of  roundsman.  He  possesses  all  the  qualifica- 
tions of  a  good  policeman  and  has  won  the  esteem  of  all 
who  know  him. 

Sergeant  John  Donaghy  has  seen  sixty  summers,  thirty 
of  which  have  been  passed  in  police  life.  In  1857  he  be- 
came a  patrolman  and  in  1872  rose  to  roundsman.  In 
1880  he  was  made  sergeant  and  he  has  well  earned  his 
promotions.  He  is  a  hale  and  hearty  gentleman  and  en- 
joys the  full  confidence  of  his  superior  officers. 

Sergeant  George  A.  Buckholz  was  born  in  1840.  In 

1863  he  enhsted  in  the  84th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  and  remained  in 
active  service  till  the  regiment  was  mustered  out.  In 

1864  he  re-enlisted  in  the  50th  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,  which 
served  for  one  hundred  days.  After  the  war  was  over,- 
in  1865,  he  entered  police  life,  and  did  duty  first  as  a 
Quarantine  Harbor  policeman  and  afterwards  as  a  pa- 
trolman. He  became  roundsman  in  1869  and  sergeant 
in  1873.    He  has  an  excellent  record. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


365 


Sergeant  George  Nicholson  was  born  in  1834.  He  be- 
came a  patrohnan  in  1868,  was  promoted  to  roundsman 
in  1873  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  sergeant  in  1882.  He  is 
an  estimable  and  worthy  officer. 

The  roundsmen  of  this  Precinct  are  John  H.  Klein 
and  Joseph  Collins. 

The  Fourteenth  has  but  one  detective  attached  to  it, 
William  Anderson,  who,  like  most  of  the  detectives,  has 
risen  from  the  ranks  to  his  present  position. 


CHAPTER  XX, 


PRECINCTS  AND  STATION-HOUSES. 


{Concluded.) 

Fifteenth  Precinct. — Station-house. — "  Smoky  Hollow." — Boun- 
daries— "House  of  Blazes." — "Island  Number  Ten." — "The 
Apple  Orchard." — "  The  Buckingham." — Captain  Henry  Kell- 
ETT. — War  Record. — Police  Record. — Sergeant  McCullough. 
— Murder  op  Officer  Stone. — Henry  Ward  Beecher's  Lecture. 
— Sergeant  Lowe. — An  Old  Artilleryman. — Sergeants  Shields 
AND  Cullen. — Detectives  and  Roundsmen. 

Sixteenth  Precinct. — Station-house. — Boundaries. — Captain  John 
Brennan. — His  Police  Life. — Sergeant  Simmons. — Sergeant 
Hamilton. — His  Army  Experience, — Sergeants  Harrington 
AND  Barr. — The  Roundsmen  and  Detectives. — Diamond  Cut 
Diamond. 

Seventeenth  Precinct.— Brief  Sketch  of  the  Police  System  of 
New  Lots  Before  its  Annexation  to  Brooklyn. — Captain 
Henry  French.— Hi&  Troubles  with  Ambitious  Youths. — The 
Sergeants. — Detectives  and  Roundsmen. 

THE  FIFTEENTH  PRECINCT. 

On  Congress  Street  near  Columbia  Street,  in  the  heart 
of  ''Smoky  Hollow,"  is  a  three-story  brick  building 
which  was  used  up  to  1881  as  a  tenement  house.  At  the 
present  writing  the  green  lamp  over  the  doorway  pro- 
claims it  the  Fifteenth  Precinct  Station-house.  When 
this  building  was  first  turned  into  a  police-station  it 
was  an  off- shoot  of  the  First  Precinct  and  was  termed 
the  Third  Sub-Precinct.  It  had  not  been  used  mope 
than  a  few  years  by  the  police,  when,  on  account  of  the 
dangerous  element  infesting  the  neighborhood,  on  the 
14th  of  July,  1885,  it  was  made  a  full  precinct  and 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


called  the  Fifteenth.  The  ground  floor  is  on  a  level  with 
the  street  and  is  divided  into  two  rooms,  the  front  and 
larger  one  of  which  is  the  oflice  and  the  other  the  Cap- 
tain's private  apartment,  a  small  room,  in  which  is  kept 
the  station  album,  a  well-filled  book  with  the  photo- 
graphs of  some  of  the  worst  ci'iminal  characters  who 
ever  "  drew  a  knife "  or  ^'cracked  a  crib."  In  another 
corner  of  the  room  is  a  large  walnut  case  which  contains 
a  miscellaneous  collection  of  dirks,  knives,  stilettos  and 
pistols  of  every  pattern  and  make,  taken  from  the  Ital- 
ians, Swedes  and  Portuguese  sailors,  who  mainly  make 
up  the  floating  population  of  that  neighborhood. 

Off  the  main  building  and  connected  with  it  by  a  long 
covered  passage-way  is  situated,  as  is  usual  with  station- 
houses,  a  one-story  brick  building  with  heavy  iron 
barred  windows,  the  ground  floor  of  which  contains  ten 
cellSj  which,  by  the  way,  are  entirely  inadequate  for 
the  ^'  rushing  business  "  done  by  Captain  Kellett.  These 
cells  are  well-filled  most  of  the  time,  and  it  frequently 
happens  that  for  want  of  room  it  is  necessary  to  put 
two  or  three  in  one  cell,  and  at  times  as  many  as  three 
or  four. 

On  the  second  floor  of  the  main  building  in  the  front 
of  the  house  is  the  Captain's  sleeping  apartment,  a  large 
richly  furnished  room,  the  ornaments  of  which  display 
the  Captain's  refined  taste. 

At  the  head  of  the  room  is  the  Captain's  bed,  a  large 
richly  carved  mahogany  article,  in  which  the  ^'  big 
Captain  "  takes  his  well-earned  rest.  Opposite  the  front 
of  the  bedstead  is  a  library  of  which  the  Captain  might 
well  be  proud,  containing  the  works  of  some  of  the  most 
noted  writers. 


368 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


To  the  rear  of  the  Captain's  room  is  the  men's  sitting- 
room.  Back  of  this  is  situated  the  general  bath-room. 
The  third  floor  and  the  third  floor  of  the  house  adjoining 
are  devoted  to  the  sleeping  apartments  of  the  sergeants, 
roundsmen  and  officers.  The  beds  of  the  men  are  placed 
so  close  together  that  the  officers  are  often  compelled  to 
climb  over  the  beds  of  their  comrades  to  reach  their 
own.  When  Captain  Kellett  took  command  of  this 
station  in  1885  he  had  but  two  platoons  of  six  men 
each,  but  these  were  tried  officers  jDicked  from  the  Third 
Sub-Precinct  by  the  Captain  himself,  the  majority  of 
whom  had  served  with  him  during  the  war,  and  although 
his  Precinct  covers  the  smallest  area  of  any  station  in 
the  city,  extending  along  Sackett  Street  to  Henry  Street, 
down  Henry  to  State  Street,  down  State  to  Hicks  Street, 
along  Hicks  Street  to  Joralemon  Street,  through  Jorale- 
mon  Street  to  Furman  Street  and  along  Furman  Street 
to  Wall  Street  Ferry,  it  is  the  most  thickly  populated 
and  takes  in  the  entire  water  front  from  Wall  Street 
Ferry  to  Hamilton  Ferry,  along  which  route  there  is 
more  money  represented  in  store -houses,  vessels  and 
merchandise  than  in  any  other  precinct.  With  such  lively 
places  to  contend  with   as  the     House  of  Blazes," 

Twelve  Temptations,"  ''The  Buckingham,"  "Hell's 
Kitchen,"  "  The  Oceanic,"  and  "  The  Pound  Tower  "  in 
Hicks  Street ;  "  The  Clothespin  "  and  "  Jacob's  Ladder  " 
in  Emmet  Street;  "Island  Number  Ten"  in  Furman 
Street;  and  the  "Apple  Orchard"  and  " Kilsey's  Alley-" 
in  Columbia  Street,  Captain  Kellett's  men  are  obliged 
to  keep  an  eagle  eye  on  their  respective  posts  to  preserve 
the  peace. 

To  give  some  idea  of  the  difficulties  in  detecting  a 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


369 


crime  in  this  neighborhood  the  following  instance  will 
illustrate:  "  Kilsey's  Alley,"  the  center  of  ''Smoky 
Hollow,"  is  along,  dark  hallway,  leading  to  what  might 
be  called  a  back  yard,  which  has  been  christened  by  the 
police  ''  The  Apple  Orchard."  It  is  the  rear  yard  of  the 
four-story  tenement  houses  surrounding  it  on  all  sides, 
in  which  live  an  average  of  three  families  to  a  floor, 
making  eighteen  families  in  a  house,  with  a  common 
yard  for  one  hundred  families.  From  this  "Apple  Or- 
chard'' there  are  four  hallways  similar  to  ''Kilsey's  Alley," 
leading  into  four  different  streets.  On  warm  summer 
evenings  these  places  swarm  with  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren indulging  in  the  vilest  excesses  all  night  and  until 
the  small  hours  in  the  morning.  On  first  witnessing  this 
sight  one  naturally  asks:  ''Why  sleep  they  not  when 
others  are  at  rest  ?  "  The  reply  suggests  that  they  have 
reversed  the  real  order  of  things  and  obtain  what  little 
sleep  they  have  in  the  daytime,  when  honest  people  are 
earning  their  sustenance. 

Again,  there  is  the  "  Buckingham, "  a  large  six-story 
double  brick  building,  the  secret  niches  and  alleys  of 
which  are  the  first  refuge  of  all  the  debauched  characters 
in  the  vicinity.  Since  the  advent  of  the  present  Captain 
much  has  been  done  to  better  the  character  and  condition 
of  these  and  similar  places. 

Captain  Henry  Kellett  was  born  on  the  30th  of  Sept- 
ember 1838.  At  the  l)reaking  out  of  the  war,  when  only 
tw^enty-one  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  the  Thirteenth 
Regiment  of  Brooklyn.  After  serving  faithfully  for 
three  months  he  returned  home  with  his  regiment, 
which  had  only  been  called  out  for  that  length  of  time. 
While  on  his  way  north  he  lent  his  aid  in  suppressing 


370 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


the  Baltimore  riots.  He  had  not  heeii  home  long  hefore 
he  again  enlisted,  this  time  for  three  years,  as  Orderly 
Sergeant  in  the  Ninetieth  New  York  Volunteers.  It  was 
not  long  hefore  his  superior  officers  showed  their  appre- 
ciation of  his  services  and  he  was  promoted  sergeant, 
then  sergeant-major,  and  shortly  after  made  second, 
then  first  lieutenant,  in  which  latter  capacity  he  served 
in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
thirty  days'  siege  of  Port  Hudson,  and  in  the  battles  of 
Marshall  Prairie  and  Donaldson.  After  the  fall  of  Yicks- 
burgh  he  was  transferred  with  the  Nineteenth  Corps  to 
Virginia  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Fredericks- 
burgh  and  Cedar  Creek.  After  passing  through  five 
desperate  battles  Avithout  a  scratch  he  was  wounded 
in  the  leg  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell.  He  lay  on 
the  field  in  a  helpless  condition  for  eight  hours 
before  being  found  l)y  his  comrades.  He  was  then 
removed  to  Harper's  Ferry,  where  he  remained  for  a  few 
days,  but  there  were  so  many  wounded  at  this  battle  that 
the  little  church  which  had  been  turned  into  a  temporary 
hospital  was  so  crowded  that  the  captain,  who  could  not 
endure  the  sight  and  listen  to  the  moans  of  his  suffering 
comrades,  asked  and  obtained  permission  to  take  rooms 
in  a  small  cottage  near  by.  There,  thanks  to  his  .  good 
constitution,  he  made  such  rajDid  improvement  that  he 
was  able  to  take  advantage  of  a  thirty  days'  furlough 
and  come  north  to  be  treated  for  his  wound.  He  was 
compelled  to  seek  for  an  extension  of  ninety  days  more. 
Eecovering  from  his  wound  he  was  assigned  to  the  Pro- 
vost Marshal's  office  in  Brooklyn  and  shortly  afterwards, 
in  1SG5,  at  the  ceasing  of  the  war,  was  mustered  out  of 
service. 


HENRY  KELLETT. 
Captain 


^  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  373 

Shortly  after  his  dibcharge  he  was  appointed  on  the 
pohce  force,  but  experiencing  more  trouble  from  his 
wound,  resigned  after  serving  for  two  months  and  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  New  Jersey.  In  1867  he  was  again 
appointed  patrolman  and  assigned  to  the  Forty-third 
Precinct.  He  remained  on  it  until  the  Metropolitan 
Police  disbanded.  He  was  then  assigned  to  Brooklyn. 
In  1872  he  was  promoted  sergeant.  When  the  Third  Sub- 
Precinct  was  organized  he  was  assigned  there  and  on  the 
the  14th  of  June,  1885  he  was  appointed  captain  of  the 
Fifteenth  Precinct. 

He  is  a  member  of  Eankin  Post,  No.  10,  Gr.  A.  P.,  and 
has  command  of  the  Police  boat  ^' Judge  Moore." 

Captain  Kellett  has  had  over  six  hundred  arrests  since 
his  appointment  as  commander  of  the  Fifteenth  Pre- 
cinct. 

Sergeant  Thomas  McCullough  was  born  September 
12th,  1813.  On  October  21:th,  1370,  he  was  appointed 
patrolman,  and  appointed  sergeant  on  August  12th,  1875, 
and  assigned  to  the  First  Precinct.  When  the  Fifteenth 
Station  was  organized  he  was  one  of  the  picked  men 
taken  by  Captain  Kellett.  While  detective  in  the  Third 
Precinct  he  assisted  in  bringing  to  justice  the  murderers 
of  Policeman  Stone,  who,  on  the  afternoon  of  June  3d, 
1880,  left  his  station  a  magnificent  specimen  of  physical 
manhood,  and  a  few  hours  later  was  carried  to  the  hos- 
pital in  a  dying  condition. 

Officer  Stone  had  gone  but  a  few  blocks  when  lie 
met  the  Smoky  Hollow  Gang,"  w^ho  had  been  attending 
the  wake  of  a  friend  and  were  more  or  less  drunk.  The 
leader  of  the  gang,  Joseph  Mungerford,  got  into  an  alter- 
cation with  one  of  the  gang  and  was  creating  a  disturb- 


374 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


ance  when  Officer  Stone  put  in  his  appearance,  and  the 
whole  gang  turned  on  him.  Pat  Doyle,  another  of  the 
gang,  struck  the  officer  with  a  rock,  fracturing  his  skull. 
McCullough,  who  had  been  put  on  the  case,  arrest- 
ed Pat  Hanlon,  alias  '^Schoofey"  Hanlon,  and  Mun- 
gerford,  whom  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  sending  to 
prison. 

The  Sergeant  was  then  appointed  Chairman  of  the 
Fund  Committee  for  the  relief  of  Officer  Stone's  widow; 
and  turned  over  to  Mr.  Eipley  Popes,  who  was  then  con- 
nected with  the  Brooklyn  Trust  Company,  $5,610  as  the 
proceeds  of  the  lecture  given  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Ward 
Beecher,  $1,334  from  the  Mutual  Aid  Society  and  $325 
voluntary  contributions  from  the  officers,  making  a  total 
of  $7,269  in  all,  for  which  Sergeant  McCullough  holds 
Mrs.  Stone's  receipt.  Among  the  many  papers  connect- 
ed with  this  matter  is  a  letter  from  Mr.  Beecher  offer- 
ing his  services  for  the  proposed  lecture. 

Sergeant  John  Lowe  was  born  in  1837.  He  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  Third  U.  S.  Artillery.  He  served  during 
the  entire  war  and  was  at  its  close  honorably  discharged 
as  First  Sergeant.  He  is  a  member  of  U.  S.  Grant  Post, 
327,  Gr.  A.  P.  On  September  12,  1872,  he  was  appointed 
patrolman  and  on  April  16,  1881,  he  was  appointed 
roundsman.  June  9,  1884,  saw  him  made  a  sergeant. 
He  has  proved  himself  in  many  instances  a  valuable 
officer. 

Sergeant  Edward  Shields  was  born  May  1st,  1847.  He 
was  appointed  on  the  16th  of  February,  1870,  to  the 
police  force  and  assigned  to  the  Forty-third  Metropohtan 
Precinct.  On  September  23d,  1882,  he  was  made  rounds- 
man, and  on  July  13th,  1885,  he  was  made  sergeant.  He 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


375 


also  has  a  splendid  record  as  private,  roundsman  and  ser- 
geant. 

Sergeant  Thomas  Cullen  was  l)orn  on  October  27th, 
1853.  On  December  2Sth,  1876,  he  ^vas  appointed  patrol- 
man on  the  Third  Precinct.  From  the  Third  he  was 
detailed  for  two  years  to  do  duty  in  citizen's  clothes  at 
one  of  the  ferries,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Elev- 
enth and  appointed  roundsman  July  7th,  1881.  On  Jime 
IGth,  1882,  he  was  appointed  sergeant.  About  1878, 
while  stationed  in  citizen's  clothes  at  the  ferry,  In- 
spector Waddy  made  the  assertion  that  no  attention 
was  paid  to  the  passing  wagons  and  carriages  by  the 
patrolmen  at  the  ferries,  and  that  he  could  pass  through 
all  of  them  in  a  carriage  without  being  discovered.  He 
attempted  it  in  company  with  Captain  Jewett,  both  dis- 
guised, in  closed  carriage  with  shades  down,  but  at 
Hamilton  Ferry  he  was  discovered  by  Patrolman  Cullen. 
On  January  llrth,  1887,  at  St.  Stephen's  Church  Fair, 
he  was  presented,  or  rather  voted,  by  an  admiring  host 
of  friends  with  a  magnificent  diamond  badge. 

The  detectives  attached  to  the  Fifteenth  are  Francis 
Stoddert  and  Daniel  Daly,  who  have  both  earned  promo- 
tion from  the  ranks  by  mei*it. 

The  roundsmen  are  Thomas  H.  CoUins  and  Abraham 
Irving. 

THE  SIXTEENTH  PRECINCT. 

A  bright  colored  lamp  in  the  front  of  one  of  a  row  of 
tenement  houses  on  Clymer  Street,  near  Kent  Avenue, 
marks  the  Sixteenth  Precinct  Station-house.  The 
district  was  at  one  time  under  the  supervison  of  Captain 
Woglom  of  the  Fifth  Precinct,  but  being  in  the  heart  of 


376 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


the  greatest  manufacturing  district  in  the  city  it  hecame 
necessary  to  have  some  place  for  the  officers  near  hy, 
so  the  Fifth  Sub-Precinct  was  organized.  Owing  to 
the  rapid  increase  of  business  in  their  locahty  it  became 
necessary  on  July  15th,  1885  to  make  this  a  fujl  Pre- 
cinct, and  it  was  called  the  Sixteenth  Precinct. 

Captain  John  Brennan,  who  supervised  the  making  of 
it  into  a  Sub-Precinct  and  who  was  its  Acting-Captain, 
was  made  Captain.  Extending  up  Broadway  to  Hewes 
Street,  to  Bedford  Avenue  up  Bedford  iV venue,  to  Flush- 
ing Avenue,  down  Flushing  Avenue  to  Washington 
Avenue,  along  Washington  Avenue  to  the  Navy  Yard 
and  along  the  water  front  to  Eoosevelt  Ferry,  Cap- 
tain Brennan's  force  of  thirty -four  men  have  as  much 
as  they  can  well  attend  to,  keeping  watch  over  the 
many  hundred  farmer  and  grocery  wagons  stationed 
nightly  at  the  Wallabout  Market. 

Captain  Brennan  being  a  Jittle  cleverer  than  his  brother 
officers,  instead  of  applying  to  the  Common  Council  for 
an  appropriation  for  a  new  station-house,  applied  to  the 
Legislature,  and  had  a  bill  passed  authorizing  the  pm^- 
chase  of  a  piece  of  ground  at  the  corner  of  Lee  Avenue 
and  Clymer  Street,  which  purchase  has  just  been  made, 
and  the  Captain  hopes  that  before  the  first  of  January, 
1S8S,  he  will  be  in  command  of  one  of  the  finest,  if  not 
the  finest  station-house  in  the  city,  and  which  wiU  have 
ample  accommodations  for  a  larger  force. 

Captain  John  Brennan  was  born  on  November  lOth^ 
1831.  On  November  18th,  1862,  he  was  appointed  as 
patrolman  to  the  Forty-seventh  Precinct.  After  four 
years  as  patrolman  he  was  promoted  roundsman  and  as- 
signed to  the  Forty -fifth  Precinct.    While  obeying  the 


JOIIX  BREXXAX, 
Captaiu. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


371) 


commands  of  the  Chief  of  Wilhamsbui'g  "  (Cax)tain 
Woglom)  in  1867  he  was  appointed  Sergeant. 

On  July  15th,  1885,  he  took  Captain's  rank.  He  aver- 
ages from  eight  hundred  to  nine  hundred  arrests  a  year, 
which  has  made  his  name  a  terror  to  the  criminal  classes 
of  his  neighborhood. 

Sergeant  Joseph  H.  Simmons  was  born  in  1836.  On  Oc- 
tober 2ti:th,  1864  he  was  appointed  to  the  pohce  force  as 
patrolman.  On  June  23d,  1 884,  he  was  given  a  roundsman's 
shield.  He  had  not  been  roundsman  more  than  a  year 
when,  thanks  to  his  early  education,  he  successfully 
passed  the  civil  service  examination  for  sergeant,  and  on 
April  3()th,  1885.  secured  his  commission. 

The  Sergeant  ha.s  made  several  brilliant  arrests  for 
burglary  and  other  offenses,  and  enjoys  the  full  confi- 
dence of  his  Captain. 

Sergeant  John  Hamilton  was  born  forty-five  years 
ago.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  responded  to  his 
country's  need  and  enlisted  with  the  Seventy-first  Regi- 
ment, N.  Y.  S.  M.,  and  remained  at  the  front  for  one 
hundred  days.  When  he  returned  home  with  the  inten- 
tion of  re- enlisting  he  found  that  both  his  brothers  were 
with  the  Union  Army  and  that  his  mother  was  alone. 
He  remained  behind  to  cheer  and  comfort  her,  while  his 
brothers  sacrificed  their  lives  at  the  front.  He  was  ap- 
appointed  on  the  police  force  February  2d,  1871.  In  1879 
he  was  made  roundsman.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1883, 
he  Avas  sent  to  Acting-Captain  Brennan's  new  Sub-Pre- 
cinct, where  he  was  later  on  promoted  sergeant  and  where 
he  has  since  remained. 

Sergeant  George  B.  Harrington  was  born  in  1857.  On 
April  1st,  1882,  he  was  api)ointed  to  the  police  force  as 


380 


BKOOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS. 


patrolman.  On  the  30th  of  April,  1885,  he  was  made 
roundsman,  and  on  December  1st  of  the  same  year  he  be- 
came sergeant,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Sixteenth  when 
on  July  15th,  1885,  it  was  made  a  full  precinct.  During 
the  time  it  was  a    Sub"  he  was  Acting- Sergeant. 

Sergeant  Alexander  Barr  was  born  December  25th, 
1838.  He  was  appointed  to  the  police  force  on  January 
5th,  1855,  On  March  1-lth,  1882,  he  was  made  rounds- 
man and  in  the  succeeding  year  he  became  sergeant. 
He  has  not  served  on  the  force  continuously  since  his 
original  appointment,  having  practiced  law  a  portion  of 
the  time. 

.  The  roundsmen  of  the  Sixteenth  are  Egbert  S.  Conk- 
lin  and  William  J.  Logan. 

The  detectives  are  Thomas  Holland  and  John  F.  Burns, 
both  excellent  officers. 

Burns,  from  his  long  experience  around  the  City  Hall, 
is  well  acquainted  with  all  the  '^sporting  men"  of 
Brooklyn  and  familiar  with  all  their  deeds  and  misdeeds. 
He  tells  one  good  story  which  concerns  a  group  of  men 
who  "  hang  out"  at  Charley  Johnston's  famous  sporting 
house. 

^ '  A  noted  race-course  man,  taking  a  drink  at  the  bar  of 
that  place,  exhibited  a  diamond  ring  of  great  beauty  and 
apparent  value  on  his  finger.  An  acquaintance  present, 
who  has  a  penchant  for  faro,  had  a  great  passion  for  dia- 
monds. After  drinking  several  times  and  much  banter- 
ing, the  owner  consented  to  barter  the  ring  for  the  sum 
of  six  hundred  dollars.  As  the  buyer  left  the  room  a 
suppressed  tittering  struck  his  ear.  He  concluded  that 
the  former  owner  had  sold  both  the  ring  and  the  pur- 
chaser.   He  said  nothing,  but  called  the  next  day  upon 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS.  381 

Hart,  the  jeweller,  where  he  learned  that  the  diamond 
was  paste  and  the  ring  worth  al)Out  twenty-five  dollars. 
He  examined  some  real  diamonds  and  found  one  closely 
resemhling  the  paste  in  his  own  ring.  He  hired  the  dia- 
mond, pledged  twelve  hundred  dollars,  the  price  of  it, 
and  gave  twenty  doUars  for  its  use  for  a  few  days. 

He  went  to  another  jeweller,  had  the  paste  removed 
and  the  real  diamond  set.  His  chums  knowing  how  he 
had  heen  imposed  upon,  impatiently  waited  for  his  ap- 
pearance the  next  night.  To  their  astonishment  they 
found  him  in  high  glee.  He  flourished  his  ring,  boasted 
of  his  bargain  and  said  if  any  gentleman  present  had 
any  twelve  hundred  dollar  ring  to  sell  for  six  hundred 
dollars  he  knew  of  a  purchaser.  When  he  was  told  that 
the  ring  was  paste  and  that  he  had  been  cheated,  he 
laughed  at  their  folly.  Bets  were  freely  offered  that  the 
ring  did  not  contain  a  real  diamond.  Two  men  bet  a 
thousand  dollars  each.  Two  bet  five  hundred  dollars. 
All  were  taken,  umpires  w^ere  chosen.  The  money  and 
the  ring  were  put  into  their  hands.  They  went  to  the 
first-class  jeweller  who  had  loaned  the  stone  and  who 
applied  all  the  tests.  He  said  the  stone  was  a  diamond 
of  the  first  water  and  was  worth,  Avithout  setting,  twelve 
hundred  dollars.  The  buyer  put  the  three  thousand  dol- 
lars which  he  had  won  quietly  into  his  pocket.  He  car- 
ried the  diamond  back  and  recalled  his  twelve  hundred 
dollars,  and  with  his  paste  ring  on  his  finger  went  over 
to  a  Xew  York  sporting  house.  The  man  who  sold  the 
ring  came  in  later,  heard  the  news  and  departed.  He 
wanted  to  get  the  ring  back.  He  attempted  to  turn  the 
whole  thing  into  a  joke.  He  sold  the  ring,  he  said,  for 
fun.    He  never  wore  false  jewels.    He  knew  that  it  was 


382 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


a  real  diamond  all  the  time.  He  could  tell  a  real  dia- 
mond anywhere  by  its  pecuhar  light.  He  would  not  be 
so  mean  as  to  cheat  an  old  friend.  He  knew  his  friend 
would  let  him  have  the  ring  again.  But  his  friend  was 
stubborn — said  that  the  seller  thought  it  was  paste  and 
intended  to  defraud  him.  At  lengthy  on  the  payment  of 
eight  hundred  dollars,  the  ring  was  restored.  All  par- 
ties came  to  the  conclusion,  when  the  whole  affair  came 
out,  that  when  diamond  cuts  diamond  again  some  one 
less  sharp  will  be  selected  by  the  original  seller." 

THE  SEVENTEENTH  PRECINCT. 

When  the  Metropolitan  Police  District  was  abolished 
in  1870  New  Lots  was  left  without  police  protection. 
The  Brooklyn  Police  Bill  was  amended  so  as  to  give  au- 
thority to  the  Town  Board  to  apply  to  the  Police  Com- 
missioner of  the  City  of  Brooklyn,  under  a  requisition, 
for  the  appointment  of  as'  many  policemen  as  it  was 
deemed  necessary.  Under  this  authority  the  Town 
Board  of  New  Lots  in  1871  made  ai)plication  for 
the  appointment  of  three  officers.  The  request 
was  complied  with,  and  W.  F.  Early,  George 
Schlenk  and  Stephen  Newman  were  appointed  as  Noav 
Lots  policemen.  At  that  time  there  was  no  station- 
house  in  the  town  ;  the  officers  reported  directly  to  Jus- 
tice Gertum  at  the  court-room  or  the  Justice's  residence, 
and  locked  up  their  prisoners  in  the  Ninth  Sub-Precinct 
station-house,  now  the  Fourteenth,  on  Broadway  near 
Gates  Avenue.  Two  years  afterwards  three  more  police- 
men were  appointed  and  a  building  was  rented  on  Lib- 
erty avenue  near  Smith,  to  be  used  as  a  lock-up.  Not 
meeting  the  wants  of  the  department  and  as  a  law  had 


^  BROOKT.YX'S  GUARDIANS.  383 

been  passed  giving  authority  to  the  town  otiicials  to 
build,  they  assessed  the  town  in  the  sum  of  ten  tliou- 
sand  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  Town  Hall  in 
some  central  location  ;  a  plot  of  gi'ound  fifty  by  one  hun- 
dred feet  was  purchased  from  the  late  Horace  A.  Miller, 
on  Butler  Avenue  near  Atlantic,  for  the  sum  of  one  thou- 
sand four  hundred  dollai's,  and  a  substantial  two-story 
and  basement  brick  building  was  erected  thereon.  It 
was  formally  handed  over  to  the  town  on  the  1 1th  of 
December,  1873.  In  1S77  the  town  officials  were  noti- 
fied by  the  then  Police  Commissioner  of  Brooklyn,  Gen- 
eral Jourdan,  that  the  city  would  no  longer  afford  police 
l^rotection  to  the  town.  Accordingly,  in  the  following- 
year,  1878,  an  act  was  j^assed,  known  as  the  Xew  Lots 
Pohce  Bill,  which  had  been  introduced  in  the  Assembly 
by  Col.  John  H.  Bergen,  authorizing  the  Supervisor,  the 
president  of  the  Excise  Board  and  the  Justice  of  the 
Peace  having  the  shortest  term  to  serve,  to  appoint  three 
Pohce  Commissioners,  to  have  full  control  of  the  depart- 
ment. In  June,  1878,  Peter  Sutter,  Henry  L.  Wyckoff  and 
John  K.  PoweU  were  appointed  as  such  commissioners.  A 
vacancy  occurred  soon  after  by  the  death  of  Mr.  AYyck- 
off,  and  Richard  Pickering,  now  editor  of  the  Long  Islcuicl 
Record,  was  appointed  in  his  stead. 

The  department  then  consisted  of  nine  men,  Avith 
William  F.  Early  as  captain  ;  Henry  French  and  Peter 
J.  Kennedy,  sergeants.  On  the  1st  of  August,  1886,  by 
an  act  of  the  Legislature,  Xew  Lots  was  annexed  to 
Brooklyn  and  called  the  Twenty-Sixth  Ward.  The  i)o- 
lice  department  in  consequence  passed  into  the  liands  of 
the  city  ;  the  Precinct  was  numbered  the  Seventeenth, 
and  Sergeant  French  was  appointed  as  Acting-Captain. 


384 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


As  now  constituted  the  police  authority  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Ward  extends  over  an  area  of  thirteen  square 
miles,  bounded  on  the  south  by  Jamaica  Bay,  on  the 
north  by  the  Town  of  Newtown,  on  the  east  by  Eldert 
Lane,  and  on  the  west  by  •  Flatlands,  Flatbush  and  the 
Manhattan  Crossing. 

Captain  Henry  French  was  born  on  the  31st  of  Octo- 
ber, 18-1:9.  He  was  appointed  on  the  police  force  June 
28,  1876.  When  the  city  refused  to  give  police  protec- 
tion to  New  Lots,  French,  who  was  then  a  patrolman, 
resigned  and  upon  the  organization  of  the  New  Lots  Po- 
lice Department  accepted  a  re-appointment,  this  time 
his  position  being  that  of  a  sergeant.  He  became  cap- 
tain when  the  town  became  annexed  to  Brooklyn. 

The  district  is  practically  bucolic  and  not  urban.  In 
nationality  it  is  largely  German.  Many  of  its  people  are 
engaged  in  tailoring  and  light  manufactures,  but  a  very 
large  number  are  farmers  and  gardeners.  Its  police 
condition  is  excellent,  the  chief  source  of  trouble  being 
visitors  from  the  city  proper  and  from  New  York.  The 
agricultural  element  affords  some  amusement  in  its  con- 
stant ambition  to  become  policemen  and  especially  de- 
tectives. 

Captain  French  receives  many  letters  from  young 
men  who  feel  that  they  were  especially  created  to  do  de- 
tective work.  Samuel  Evans,  who  adds  to  his  signature 
the  letters,  I.  0.  0.  F.  F.  T.  &  T.,  asks  : 

^'Are  you  In  nead  ?  I  am  a  Borne  dettective  and 
am  now  a  collectter  and  Farmr.  Their  is  Nothing  much 
going  on,  and  I  intecapate  Becomeing  same  mentioned 
above. 

^'P.  S.    You  might  find  me  something." 


HENRY  FRENCH, 
Captain. 


I 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS. 


387 


Mr.  Evans,  I.  0.  0.  F.  F.  T.  &  T.,  was  not  sent  for. 
A  young  man  in  Brooklyn,  Avho  is  twenty-three  years 
old,  writes  : 

I  want  a  position.  Am  not  afraid  of  work.  I  de- 
sire to  learn  to  become  a  detective.    Give  me  a  show." 

An  ambitious  youth  from  Flatlands,  N,  Y.,  the  adjoin- 
ing town,  says  : 

''  I  am  a  young  man  of  nineteen,  and  have  learned 
telegraphy.  Do  you  take  apprentices?  If  so,  please 
give  me  a  chance." 

The  telegrapher  was  informed  that  the  captain  is  not 
a  schoolmaster  and  has  no  time  to  go  into  the  business. 
George  Parker  wants  to  know  in  what  way  a  man  can  be- 
come a  member  of  the  Brooklyn  detective  force  and  sug- 
gests as  a  valuable  fact  that  he  is  acquainted  with  three 
or  four  detectives  in  Suffolk  County.  Henry  J.  Harris 
hits  from  the  shoulder  and  informs  the  world  of  his  pe- 
culiar fitness  for  detective  work  in  the  following  epistle  : 

' '  I  come  in  my  OAvn  bluff  way — that  is,  to  begin  in  the 
middle  and  work  both  ways.  I  think  I  am  a  born  de- 
tective, for  my  father  was  a  detective  when  I  was  bom. 
I  have  worked  up  several  tough  cases,  and  have  never 
lost  a  point  yet.  I  have  been  slowly  piping  one  of  the 
strangest  murder  cases  ever  known,  and  all  the  regular 
detectives  are  on  the  wrong  track.  I  want  authority. 
I  have  dash  and  make  up  well.  I  am  straight  goods,  all 
wool  and  yard  wide.  I  do  not  fear  Old  Xick,  and  yet  I 
am  not  hasty.  If  I  had  a  commission  I  could  work  on 
several  big  cases  that  rewards  will  be  offered  in. " 

Sergeant  Patrick  Brophy  was  born  in  1818.  He  took 
his  position  as  a  member  of  the  police  force  on  February 
4,  1875,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Twelfth  Precinct.  A 


3S8 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


month  later  he  was  transferred  to  New  Lots,  where, 
after  four  years  of  service,  he  was  promoted  roundsman 
and  in  February,  1880,  became  sergeant.  The  Sergeant 
has  effected  many  important  arrests. 

Sergeant  Wilham  F.  Early  was  born  in  184:4.  He 
joined,  in  1858,  the  Second  United  States  Artillery  as  a 
fifer  and  remained  a  soldier  five  years,  receiving  his  dis- 
charge in  Florida.  In  187(i  he  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  constable  and  a  year  later  joined  the  police  force.  He 
was  first  a  sergeant  and  afterwards  captain  of  the  New 
Lots  Police.  On  the  3d  of  July,  1883,  a  new  commission 
coming  into  form  effected  a  change  in  the  government 
of  the  New  Lots  Police.  Captain  Early  took  a  stand 
against  the  new  order  of  things,  and  in  consequence  re- 
signed his  position.  The  same  day  he  was  reappointed, 
this  time  assuming  the  office  of  sergeant.  He  has  made 
many  good  arrests. 

Sergeant  Nicholas  Contion  was  born  in  May,  1852.  He 
was  elected  constable  of  New  Lots  and  discharged  the 
duties  of  his  office  with  such  excellence  that  he  was  re- 
elected on  six  different  occasions.  On  the  15th  of  January 
he  was  appointed  patrolman  in  the  police  force  and 
became  roundsnicm  in  July  of  the  same  year.  Later  on 
he  was  made  sergeant. 

Sergeant  Christian  Eeimels  was  born  in  1848.  He  was 
appointed  patrolman  on  the  New  Lots  force  in  1878,  and 
when  the  town  was  annexed  to  the  City  of  Brooklyn 
was  re-appointed  and  made  sergeant  of  the  new  Seven- 
teenth Precinct. 

Detectives  McNeany  and  Kortwright  are  attached  to 
this  Precinct,  and  are  intelligent  and  faithful  officers. 

The  roundsmen  are  Fisher  and  Ringhouser. 


CHAPTER  XXL 


Brooklyn's  harbor  police. 


The  "  Judge  Mooue.'" — Its  Description. — Where  to  Find  It. — 
Where  it  Goes  and  When. — Its  Captains  and  Crews. — Its 
Duties  and  Its  Record. — River-Thieves,  their  Habits  and 
Tricks. — A  Model  Dh'e. — The  Old  Charters  of  Dongan  and 
CoRNBURY. — Private  Piers. — River-Pirates. — Their  Struggle 
With  the  Police. — Giving  False  Alarms  to  Their  Enemy. — 
"  Dutch  Frank,"  the  Pirate  King. — Stealing  a  Hawser  Under 
THE  Captain's  Nose.— Chased  and  Collared  on  Governor's 
Island  by  Officer  Casey.— Who  Stole  the  Rope. — Ted  Perry 
the  "  Speculator."— Stealing  a  Canal  Boat  and  Its  Cargo 
OF  Wheat. — The  Police  too  Actlv^e  for  Them. — Disappear- 
ance OF  A  Truck  and  its  Load  op  Sugar. — Officer  McMahon 
Spoils  a  New  and  Ingenious  Game  at  the  Erie  Basin. — The 
End  of  the  Silver  Gang. — The  Combination  Gang  op  Brook- 
lyn AND  Staten  Island. — Sergeant  Eason's  Gallant  Capture 
— Officer  McMahon  Has  a  Long  Chase. — Final  Failure  op 
Justice. — The  Smoky  Hollow  Gang. — A  Thief  Makes  a  Bold 
Break  for  Liberty. — Sugar  Stealing. — Thousands  Wasted 
Wantonly. 

N  November  18,  1885,  a  great  improvement  was 
effected  in  the  police  administration  by  the  estab- 
Hshment  of  a  steamboat-squad  upon  about  the  system  that 
has  been  followed  by  the  New  York  authorities  for  many 
years.  A  boat  was  purchased  by  the  city  government 
and  named  Judge  Moore  "  in  honor  of  the  distinguished 
magistrate  of  the  Court  of  Sessions.  It  has  been  in  daily 
use  ever  since,  and  has  become  an  invaluable  protection 
to  the  vast  water-front  of  the  municipality.  The  '  ^  Judge 
Moore  "  is  a  handsome  vessel,  half -tug  and  half  steam 
yacht,  forty  feet  long,  eight  beam,  and  three  and  one-half 


390 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


draught.  Her  build  enables  her  to  steam  rapidly,  and  at 
the  same  time  safely  undergo  the  collisions,  scrapings 
and  concussions  she  is  bound  to  meet  in  prowling  about 
the  wharves  and  bulkheads  and  passing  into  crowded 
sHps  and  basins.  The  vessel  and  crew,  or  squad,  are  at- 
tached ta  the  Fifteenth  Precinct  and  are  nominally  com- 
manded by  Captain  Kellett.  It  takes  a  little  daily  rest 
at  the  foot  of  Atlantic  Street,  but  nearly  all  the  time, 
day  and  night,  it  is  cruising  along  the  water-front, 
which  extends  from  Newtown  Creek  at  Hunter's  Point, 
along  the  East  Eiver,  Buttermilk  Channel,  New  York 
Harbor  and  Growanus  Bay  to  the  foot  of  Sixtieth  Street 
at  Bay  Eidge.  It  leaves  usually  at  eight  a.m.  and  re- 
turns at  four  P.M.,  when  the  crew  is  changed  ;  it  then 
leaves  again  and  returns  after  midnight.  In  summer  it 
cruises  all  night.  The  first  squad  is  commanded  by  Pilot 
Martin  Casey,  and  consists  of  two  deck  hands  or  patrol- 
men and  an  engineer.  The  second,  commanded  by  Pilot 
Fehx  Brady,  consists  of  two  hands  and  an  engineer.  One 
of  the  deck  hands,  Philip  Eodgers,  is  the  relief  pilot.  The 
' '  Judge  Moore  "  does  much  more  work  than  is  usually 
believed.  It  pursues  and  captures  river-pirates  and 
recovers  the  booty,  assists  in  quelling  mutiny  on  ship- 
board, takes  part  in  saving  life  and  property  at  fires  on 
the  river-front  or  vessels,  rescues  drowning  people,  picks 
up  derelict  property,  and  intervenes  in  quarrels  between 
seamen,  stevedores  and  other  maritime  and  semi-mari- 
time toilers.  Its  record  in  a  year  and  a  half  is  admirable, 
it  having  quelled  two  mutinies,  arrested  three  sailors  and 
thirty  other  persons,  saved  two  lives  (one  by  Officer 
Eodgers  springing  overboard  and  bringing  the  drowning 
man  to  the  surface),  and  found  and  restored  yachts, 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


391 


boats,  rafts  and  other  lost  property  aggregating  in  value 
over  eighteen  thousand  dollars.  Besides  all  this  work,  it 
has  driven  the  river-pirates  out  of  business.  The  profes- 
sional river-thieves,  the  "Smoky  Hollow"  and  "Red 
Hook  Gangs,"  the  "  Canallers,"  the  Gowanus  and  Bay 
Ridge  gangs,  the  Eighth  Ward  "  Hardscrabblers, "  the 
Newtown  and  Wallabout  crowds  are  all  now  things  of  the 
past.  Before  the  steam-boat  squad  was  instituted  it  was 
a  difficult  task  to  apprehend  the  river-thieves  in  the  act. 
The  moment  they  were  discovered  they  took  to  the 
water,  in  which  they  were  water  rats  and  on  which  they 
were  skilled  and  swift  oarsmen.  Beneath  each  wharf 
and  in  each  bulkhead,  were  places,  either  left  by  the  build- 
ers or  constructed  by  themselves,  to  which  they  would 
swim  under  water  and  where  they  would  remain  for 
hours  or  until  the  officials  had  gone  away.  Beneath  the 
pier  of  the  Cornell  property,  now  occupied  by  the 
Arbuckle  Coffee  Mills,  they  had  constructed  a  floor  and 
rude  walls  in  which  they  lived,  played  cards,  drank  and 
consummated  their  plans  of  robbery  and  even  murder. 
The  police  boat  changed  all  this,  making  the  water  more 
dangerous  than  the  land.  As  a  consequence,  the  bolder 
spirits  conceived  their  occupation  gone  and  dropped  their 
long  careers  of  piracy,  and  only  the  more  contemptible 
class,  the  sneak-thieves,  remained.  There  is  still  a  large 
element  upon  the  watei*- front  which  requires  to  be 
watched  and  kept  under  subjection.  Fortunately  for 
Brooklyn,  most  of  these  are  now  in  New  York  and 
intend  to  remain  there. 

Another  fact  which  protects  Brooklyn  are  the  provisions 
of  the  old  Colonial  charters  of  New  York  City— those 
of  Dongan  and  Lord  Cornbury.    New  York  owned  the 


392 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


river  up  to  the  Long  Island  Avater-mark.  As  the  pier 
and  bulkhead  line  extends  far  past  this  limit,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  the  metropolis  still  exercises  a  jurisdiction  over 
our  wharves,  and  is  bound  to  capture  and  punish  all 
v^rong-doers  it  may  discover.  For  this  reason  the  river- 
thief  on  the  Nevr  York  side  has  to  contend  against  the 
police  of  that  city  alone,  but  on  the  Brooklyn  side  he  is 
compelled  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  the  police  of  both  cities. 
Another  feature  of  the  Brooklyn  water-front,  which 
is  very  noteworthy,  is  that  it  is  nearly  all  under  private 
and  not  public  ownership.  These  owners  are  generally 
rich  merchants  or  wealthy  corporations,  all  of  whom 
employ  watchmen.  Year  by  year  this  feature  has 
grown,  until  to-day  nineteen-twentieths  of  the  property 
is  in  private  hands,  splendidly  kept,  watched  and  pro- 
tected. 

As  a  result  of  these  many  causes,  or  social  and  mu- 
nicipal factors,  river  thieving,  or,  as  it  might  more  ap- 
propriately be  called,  river  piracy,  on  Brooklyn's  shores 
is  in  a  measure  a  thing  of  the  past.  Occasionally  arrests 
are  made,  but  they  are  of  such  a  trivial  nature  compared 
with  the  depredations  committed  years  ago  that  they 
can  hardly  be  classed  under  the  name.  Fifteen  to 
twenty  years  ago  well  organized  gangs  of  men,  known 
to  the  police  as  ^'  speculators,"  plied  their  vocations  along 
the  Long  Island  shores,  bidding  defiance  to  the  authori- 
ties. Often  the  thieves  have  been  discovered  at  their 
work,  but  in  the  majority  of  cases  the  rascals  were  more 
than  a  match  for  the  pohce  and  got  off  clear  with  their 
booty.  In  case  an  arrest  was  effected,  the  prisoner  was 
pretty  sure  to  be  discharged,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of 
producing  the  owners  of  the  stolen  property.    From  time 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


393 


to  time  valuable  goods  were  discovered  liidden  under  the 
docks  and  in  other  queer  places,  but  it  was  seldom  that 
the  goods  had  to  be  hidden,  as  the  thieves  found  willing 
purchasers  in  the  numerous  receivers  who  were  generally 
on  hand  looking  out  for  business.  These  river  pirates 
displayed  great  boldness  and  cunning  in  their  undertak- 
ings, and  would  stoop  to  any  crime  that  would  further 
their  ends.  Instances  of  their  cunning  are  shown  at 
every  turn.  On  one  occasion  a  number  of  men  concocted 
a  plan  to  steal  a  cargo  of  sugar  from  a  vessel  lying  in 
the  Erie  Basin  well  off  shore.  To  cover  their  work,  the 
thieves  caused  it  to  be  noised  about  that  they  would  that 
night  rob  a  floater  anchored  at  a  point  in  the  river  fully 
a  mile  from  the  vessel  they  in  reality  intended  to  pilfer. 
The  police  were  on  hand  at  the  wrong  place,  and  after 
waiting  over  two  hom^s  for  the  pirates,  who  did  not  put 
in  an  appearance,  went  back  to  the  station,  only  to  dis- 
cover the  next  day  that  they  had  been  cleverly  hoaxed 
and  that  the  thieves  had  accomplished  their  purpose  in 
another  direction.  A  sharp  watch  was  kept  up  for  these 
jokers,  but  up  to  the  present  day  they  have  not  been  dis- 
covered. 

One  of  the  most  notorious  of  the  river  pirates  was 
Frank  Schmidt,  or,  as  he  was  more  famiharly  known, 

Dutch  Frank.''  For  years  he  carried  on  his  thieving 
operations  without  interruption.  His  exploits  were  of 
a  most  daring  character,  and  his  name  became  familiar 
with  all  vessel  owners  and  consignees.  The  authorities 
tried  every  means  in  their  power  to  capture  him,  but  did 
nut  meet  with  success  until  the  13th  of  July,  1885,  when 
they  caught  him  and  placed  him  under  lock  and  key. 
On  the  day  of  his  arrest,    Dutch  Frank,-' accompanied 


394 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


by  Bernard  and  Patrick  Martin,  two  well-known  dock 
thieves,  visited  the  British  steamship  Sahsbury,"  which 
was  then  lying  in  the  river  at  the  foot  of  Pacific  Street, 
and  stole  a  hawser  valued  at  fifty  dollars.  The  Martin 
boys  boarded  the  vessel,  and  mingling  with  a  crowd  of 
visitors  managed  to  secure  the  hawser  and  a  quantity  of 
rope,  which  they  passed  in  the  presence  of  the  captain 
and  crew  over  the  side  of  the  vessel  to  Schmidt,  who  had 
remained  in  a  row-boat  close  to  the  stern.  The  captain, 
who  was  on  deck  at  the  time,  saw  the  act,  and  as  Schmidt 
rowed  off  called  to  the  tug-boat  James  A.  Garfield," 
which  he  boarded  and  immediately  set  chase  for  the  fast 
disappearing  thief.  Officer  Martin  Casey,  in  charge  of 
the  police  patrol  boat,  the  "Judge  Moore,"  recognized  in 
the  fugitive  the  notorious  Dutch  Frank, "  and  getting 
up  steam  followed  in  the  wake  of  the  captain  of  the 
Salisbury."  Schmidt  made  for  Governor's  Island  and 
landed  about  two  minutes  before  his  pursuers.  He  struck 
inland  for  a  hiding  place^  but  before  he  had  gone  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  was  overtaken  and  after  a  short  struggle 
made  a  prisoner.  The  *  ^  Judge  Moore  "  took  Schmidt  back 
to  Brooklyn,  where  he  was  arraigned  before  a  Police 
Justice  and  remanded  for  an  examination.  He  was 
finally  taken  before  Judge  Moore,  in  the  Court  of  Ses- 
sions,  but  he  was  not  immediately  tried.  While  the  case 
was  pending,  another  charge  of  stealing  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars'  worth  of  rope  from  the  ship  "Stand- 
ard "  was  brought  against  him.  This  latter  case  came 
to  trial,  and  Schmidt  was  found  guilty  and  sent  to  prison 
for  five  years. 

Another  successful  thief  was  Edwin  Perry,  who  also 
eluded  the  vigilance  of  the  police  for  a  number  of  years, 


396 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


but  was  finally  arrested  and  sent  to  Sing  Sing  for  life  for 
murder  in  the  second  degree.  Perry  built  a  small  house 
on  a  float,  and  anchoring  it  at  the  foot  of  Montague 
Street  carried  on  the  business  of  receiving  stolen  goods. 
He  did  a  thriving  trade,  having  customers  from  three  or 
four  cities,  and  made  a  great  deal  of  money.  Perry 
transacted  his  business  with  such  openness  that  it  elicited 
remark,  and  Watchman  Patrick  Hayes  was  suspected  of 
being  in  league  with  the  receiver.  A  raid  was  made  on 
the  place,  but  the  police  found  that  their  bird  had  flown. 
Nothing  more  was  heard  of  Perry  until  the  early  part 
of  1870,  when  he  was  arrested  as  the  murderer  of  Watch- 
man Hayes,  who  was  shot  through  the  heart  while 
patrolling  his  post  in  front  of  Watson's  Stores.  The 
prisoner  declared  his  innocence,  but  the  evidence  was  too 
strong  against  him  and  he  was  convicted.  He  was 
afterwards  pardoned  and  is  now,  to  all  appearance,  lead- 
ing an  honest  life. 

The  boldest  deed  ever  committed  by  Brooklyn  river- 
thieves  was  the  attempt  by  flve  men,  four  years  ago,  to 
steal  a  canal  boat.  This  quintet  of  dare-devils  consisted  of 
Messrs.  Walsh,  Sullivan,  O'NeiU,  Bell  and  Callahan,  who 
having  learned  that  the  captain  of  the  canal  boat,  the 

John  Bates  "  (which  belonged  to  Starin  &  Co.),  had  gone 
to  the  theatre,  seized  a  roAV-boat  on  the  Brooklyn  shore 
and  rowed  over  to  the  Wall  Street  Ferry,  New  York, 
where  the  '  ^  Bates  "  was  anchored.  When  they  arrived 
there  the  thieves  found  the  canal  boat  lashed  to  the  side 
of  a  steamer;  but  this  fact  did  not  trouble  them,  as  thej 
quietly  cut  the  roi)es  which  connected  the  two  boats,  and 
haihng  a  passing  tug-boat  were  towed  over  to  the  Boston 
Dry  Dock,  where  they  commenced  to  unload  a  valuable 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


397 


cargo  of  wheat.  Eoundsnian  McMahoiij  of  the  Eleventh 
Precinct,  was  an  interested  spectator  of  what  had  passed 
and  recognizing  in  Walsh  an  old-time  river  thief  he 
made  up  his  mind  to  stop  their  little  game.  Going  back 
to  the  Station-house,  he  secured  the  assistance  of  Captain 
Eeilly,  who  has  since  been  made  an  inspector,  and  De- 
tective Looney.  The  three  arrived  on  the  scene  of 
miloading  just  as  the  bags  of  wheat  were  being  put  upon 
a  wagon,  and  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  officers  upon 
the  spot  so  surprised  the  thieves  that  they  were  overcome 
with  but  little  resistance.  At  the  trial  which  followed 
Callahan  assumed  all  the  responsibilities  of  the  crime, 
saying  that  he  had  hired  the  men  to  do  the  work.  On 
this  testimony  Walsh,  Sulhvan,  O'Neil  and  Bell  were 
released,  and  Callahan  was  sent  to  the  Penitentiary  for 
four  years  and  eleven  months.  After  serving  three  years 
of  his  sentence  he  escaped,  but  was  captured  three 
months  afterwards  in  Xew  York  and  brought  back  to 
serve  out  the  remainder  of  his  time. 

Almost  as  bold  a  robbery  was  experienced  by  Mr. 
Luther  Westerbrook,  a  truckman,  over  thirteen  years 
ago.  Mr.  Westerbrook  had  a  commission  to  dehver  eight 
hundred  and  ten  pounds  of  sugar  to  the  captain  of  a 
vessel  lying  at  a  dock  near  the  South  Ferry,  on  the  New 
York  side.  It  was  in  the  afternoon  when  he  undertook 
to  dehver  the  goods.  When  he  arrived  in  New  York  he 
could  not  find  the  vessel,  and  leaving  his  truck  he  went 
in  search  of  it.  He  found  it,  but  when  he  came  to  look 
for  his  truck  it  was  gone.  A  diligent  search  failed  to 
discover  it  and  Mr.  Westerbrook  returned  home  with  a 
heavy  heart.  Ten  o'clock  that  evening  the  truck  was 
found  in  South  Brooklyn,  with  all  its  load  of  sugar 


398 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


removed.  The  perpetrators  of  this  robbery  were  never 
discovered. 

Another  style  of  river  piracy,  where  the  captain  of  a 
vessel  combined  with  the  thief  to  rob  the  owner,  was 
unearthed  a  couple  of  years  ago  by  Eoundsman  Mc- 
Mahon.  Jack  Walsh  and  his  brother  Mike  one  dark 
night  boarded  the  ''John  Cody,"  one  of  Starin's  boats, 
lying  in  the  Erie  Basin,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Cap- 
tain Lacken  carried  off  twelve  bags  of  wheat.  Mc- 
Mahon  watched  the  men  unload  their  boat  at  the  dock 
and  saw  them  go  away  for  a  truck.  One  returned 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  afterwards,  and  was  arrested  and 
taken  to  the  Station.  The  roundsman  came  back  just 
in  time  to  capture  the  other  thief  who  had  returned  with 
the  truck.  Mike  Walsh  was  discharged  from  custody, 
but  his  brother  did  not  fare  so  well,  being  sent  to  the 
Penitentiary  for  three  years  and  six  months.  Captain 
Lacken,  who  was  afterwards  ai'rested,  was  sent  to  jail  for 
twenty-nine  days. 

Thomas  Hunt,  who  was  known  as  the  leader  of  the 
"Silver  Gang,"  five  years  ago  was  arrested  by  Eounds- 
man McMahon  for  stealing  some  block-rigging  valued 
at  forty-six  dollars  from  the  Boston  Dry  Dock,  and  was 
sent  to  the  Penitentiary  for  three  years  and  six  months. 
The  arrest  and  conviction  of  Hunt  broke  the  gang  up. 
It  was  composed  of  a  dozen  young  desperadoes,  chief 
among  whom  were  Hugh  Doherty,  Bill  Burns,  Tom  Hunt, 
Pat  Murray  and  ''Ed"  Eyans.  None  of  the  gang  after 
the  disbandment  followed  the  river  business,  with  the 
exception  of  Burns,  who  was  arrested  in  about  a  year, 
but  was  not  convicted. 

The  '•  Combination  Gang  "  was  made  up  of  seven  men. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  399 

Three  lived  in  Brooklyn,  and  disposed  of  all  the  goods 
they  stole  here  in  Staten  Island,  where  their  companions 
carried  on  their  work.  From  Staten  Island  the  remain- 
der of  the  gang  sent  the  goods  they  seized  to  their 
Brooklyn  companions,  who  got  rid  of  them  easily  with- 
out fear  of  detection.  Roundsman  McMahon  broke  up 
the  combination  by  arresting  George  Hoffman,  the  leader, 
as  he  was  coming  from  Staten  Island  with  some  stolen 
property.  Hoffman  languished  in  jail  for  a  while,  but 
was  finally  discharged,  as  no  owner  for  the  property 
could  be  brought  forward. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  1880,  Captain  Campbell,  of  the 
old  First  Precinct  Station-house,  heard  that  a  number  of 
thieves  had  made  their  plans  to  rob  a  lighter  lying  at  the 
foot  of  Joralemon  street.  Sergeant  Eason  was  sent  out 
in  command  of  a  force  composed  of  Sergeant  Bellew, 
Roundsmen  Harold  and  Downing,  Detectives  Rhoddy 
and  Lowery  and  six  officers.  At  the  dock  the  sergeant 
placed  his  men  in  concealment  and  started  out  to  recon- 
noitre. He  saw  that  the  thieves  were  hard  at  work,  but 
could  not  tell  how  many  were  engaged  in  the  business. 
A  signal  brought  his  officers  to  the  spot  and  before  five 
minutes  had  passed  three  pirates  were  handcuffed,  the  rest 
escaping.  The  men  gave  their  names  as  Joe  Thorne,  Bob 
Phiphand  and  Charles  Wilson,,  and  they  were  indicted  by 
the  grand  jury.  A  curious  thing  is  that  notwithstand- 
ing seven  years  have  passed  the  thieves  were  never  tried 
and  are  now  at  large,  having  been  released  on  bail.  The 
property  recovered  by  the  police  in  this  haul  was  sixteen 
hundred  pounds  of  sugar  and  two  boats,  all  of  which 
was  returned  to  the  owner. 

Joe  Toole  and  a  companion  named  Shay,  earl}  on  a 


400 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


morning  three  years  ago,  gave  Roundsman  McMahon 
a  tough  chase.  The  officer  saw  the  men  steal  some 
sugar  from  a  vessel  lying  at  the  Boston  Dry  Dock,  and 
hiring  a  row  boat  he  put  after  them.  The  thieves,  see- 
ing that  McMahon  was  gaining  on  them,  hailed  a  tug- 
boat and  offered  five  dollars  for  a  tow.  The  offer  was 
accepted  and  soon  they  were  leaving  their  pursuer  far 
behind.  The  roundsman  discharged  the  seven  chambers 
of  his  revolver  at  the  fugitives,  but  did  not  hit  them. 
Eo^ving  into  shore  McMahon  hired  a  wagon  and  drove 
at  break-neck  speed  in  the  direction  taken  by  Toole  and 
Shay.  When  at  the  landing  place  of  the  thieves  the 
roundsman  arrested  Shay,  and  after  taking  him  to  the 
station  secured  Toole,  who  had  returned  with  a  truck  and 
was  busily  loading  the  stolen  sugar.  Despite  all  the 
trouble  taken  by  the  officer  to  arrest  the  men,  they  were 
never  convicted  owing  to  the  same  defect — that  no  own- 
er could  be  found,  the  vessel  from  which  the  things  were 
stolen  having  put  to  sea. 

Early  in  March,  1884,  Officer  McLaughlin  arrested  two 
men  who  were  acting  in  a  suspicious  manner  around 
Martin's  Stores.  When  brought  before  Captain  Eason, 
of  the  Second  Precinct  Station-house,  they  gave  their 
names  as  Frank  White  and  Thomas  Ward  and  upon  be- 
ing questioned  confessed  that  they  were  members  of  a 
gang  that  was  planning  to  rob  Martin's  Stores.  Acting 
on  the  information  received  the  pohce  arrested  Phil 
White  and  Frank  Williams  as  they  were  stealing  goods 
from  the  stores.  Ward,  Williams  and  White  when  ar- 
raigned pleaded  guilty,  and  were  sent  to  prison  for  two 
years  and  a  half  each.    Phil  White  was  discharged. 

John  White  and  Thomas  Williams,  two  notorious 


BROOKLY>"'S  GUARDIA>'S.  401 

characters  who  made  themselves  a  nuisance  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Wallabout  Basin,  were  arrested  two  years 
ago  for  steahng,  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  two 
years  and  a  half  each  by  Judge  Moore. 

The  Smoky  Hollow  Gang"  is  now  another  thing  of 
the  past,  thanks  to  the  efficiency  of  Captain  Reilly,  and 
the  Precinct  and  Central  Office  detectives.  Its  main 
headquarters  were  in  the  Sixth  Ward  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  South  Ferry,  but  its  operations  extended  as  far 
south  as  Bed  Hook  and  east  to  Wall  Street  Ferry.  Few 
of  them  possessed  the  courage  of  the  river  pirates  de- 
scribed ;  in  fact,  all  of  them  may  be  properly  called  the 
sneak-thieves  of  the  water-front,  k.  favorite  field  for 
them  was  the  immense  district  in  the  Twelfth  Ward 
lying  around  the  great  Erie  and  Brooklyn  Basins,  then 
being  constructed  by  Beard  and  Robinson.  Here  they 
reaped  a  continuous  if  not  rich  harvest  by  steahng  tim- 
ber, workmen's  clothes  and  tools  and  occasionally  rob- 
bing vessels.  The  numerous  shanties  and  deserted  huts 
and  sheds  in  the  neighborhood,  the  tall  grass  in  the  salt 
meadows,  Growanus  Bay  and  the  Canal  offered  them 
secure  places  in  which  to  store  their  plunder  and  to  dis- 
pose of  it  with  impunity.  Some  of  them  must  have  been 
readers  of  yellow-covered  hterature,  as  time  and  time 
again  the  pohce  have  discovered  dens  along  the  basins, 
filthy  retreats  in  derelict  canal  boats,  and  deserted  hovels 
that  were  fitted  up  in  the  most  approved  style  of  dime- 
novels  and  that  contained  odd  collections  of  spoil  from 
their  many  criminal  exploits. 

Officer  McKenna  tells  a  funny  story  of  one  of  the 
river-pirates:  ^^I  was  near  the  foot  of  Jay  Street  one 
night,  and  was  suddenly  called  by  the  captain  of  a  brig 


4:02 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


to  come  on  board  and  arrest  a  robber.  The  captain  had 
passed  the  evening  with  a  friend,  and  on  returning 
found  his  room  in  terrible  disorder  and  several  valuable 
articles  missing.  The  watchman  was  on  duty  on  the 
deck  and  declared  that  no  one  had  passed  him  during 
the  night.  Leaving  him  to  watch  the  companion-way, 
we  rushed  below  and  made  a  thorough  search  for  the 
burglar.  We  worked  like  slaves  an  hour  and  then  gave 
it  up,  concluding  the  thief  had  escaped.  I  was  about  to 
leave  when  some  one  sneezed.  We  sprang  up  and  in  a 
jiffy  found  the  cause.  The  thief  was  a  small  and  fright- 
fully thin  young  tough,  who  had  concealed  himself  under 
the  rumpled  clothes  of  the  captain's  bed  within  five  feet 
of  where  we  were  standing.  He  must  have  been  there 
two  hours  and  probably  was  nearly  smothered.  He  pre- 
tended to  be  very  drunk,  but  a  few  taps  of  the  stick 
upon  his  soles  sobered  him  up  very  quickly.  He  staggered 
to  and  fro  as  he  went  up  the  stairs  and  across  the  deck 
to  the  gang- way.  Then  like  a  flash  he  broke  away 
from  me,  and  jumped  down  between  the  ship  and  the 
dock.  We  stood  waiting  but  he  never  came  up.  He 
must  have  swam  under  the  water  to  the  pier  and  hid 
himself  on  some  shelf  between  the  piles,  because  nobody 
was  ever  found,  nor  was  complaint  made  of  a  missing 
man  of  his  description. " 

One  of  the  successful  methods  of  thieves  practised  by 
the  river  pirates  before  the  dock  patrol  was  efficiently 
organized  was  to  row  under  the  docks,  where,  safe  from 
observation,  they  could  bore  up  through  the  timbers  of 
the  wharf  into  the  sugar  hogsheads  which  were  stored 
above.  It  is  frequently  the  case  that  when  a  ship  is  un- 
loaded at  Martin's  or  Prentice's  stores,  the  great  hogs- 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  403 

heads  of  sugar  or  molasses  lie  on  the  docks  several  days, 
covered  with  tarpaulin,  pending  their  removal  by  the 
lighters  to  the  great  refineries.  During  this  time  on 
many  occasions  half  the  contents  of  the  lower  tier  of 
hogsheads  were  removed.  The  men  working  on  the 
docks  never  thought  of  buying  sugar  for  household  use, 
but  would  fill  their  dinner  pails  from  the  hogsheads. 
This,  however,  was  but  a  small  item  of  the  leakage. 
Along  in  the  evening  a  couple  of  men  in  a  stout  White- 
hall boat  would  slink  under  the  piei',  and  mth  a  large 
pump  auger  bore  up  through  the  wharf  into  the  hogs- 
heads above  and  then  catch  the  sugar  as  it  ran  down  in 
bags  which  they  had  provided  for  the  purpose.  Four  or 
five  hundred  pounds  of  sugar  would  be  carried  away  in 
this  manner,  and  as  the  pirates  never  took  the  trouble  to 
plug  up  the  holes  enough  sugar  has  been  wasted  in  this 
way  to  sweeten  the  East  River.  Some  times  the  auger 
would  miss  its  aim  and  plunge  up  into  a  barrel  of  mo- 
lasses. Then  the  sticky  fluid  would  descend  into  the 
boat  amid  choice  river-pirate  profanity.  They  would 
row  the  boat  away  and  let  the  molasses  run  into  the 
river.  Coffee  was  occasionally  stolen  in  the  same  man- 
ner, and  it  is  not  an  extravagant  estimate  to  assert  that 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  sugar  and 
molasses  have  been  stolen  and  wasted  in  this  manner, 
probably  more  wasted  than  stolen. 

This  method  of  thieving  was  for  a  long  time  practised, 
no  doubt  in  many  instances  mth  the  contrivance  of  the 
dock  watchmen.  The  trade  was  so  good  and  so  many 
were  concerned  in  it  that  it  became  imperative  that  the 
storage  men  should  take  some  action  in  the  matter. 
The  thieves  did  not  confine  their  depredations  to  work 


404 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


under  the  dock,  but  would  grab  a  whole  sack  of  coffee, 
or  any  merchandise  portable  enough  to  be  carried  in  a 
row  boat,  and  make  off  with  it.  Things  came  to  such  a 
pass  that  there  was  an  investigation,  many  of  the  dock 
watchmen  were  discharged  and  a  wharf  patrol  was 
organized. 


CHAPTER  XXIL 


THE  RAYMOND  STREET  JAIL. 


Fort  Greene. — Its  Edge  op  Buildings. — The  Lock-up  in  1830. — The 
New  Jail  of  1836. — The  Old  Court-House  Made  a  Jail. — The 
New  Jail  of  1879. — Its  Appearance  and  Entrances. — The 
Main  hall  and  Office. — The  Interior.— How  it  Looks  and  How 
it  is. — The  Black  Marias. — The  Women's  Ward  and  Its 
Interior.  —  Warden  Martin  Burroughs  and  His  Staff.  — 
Keeper  Shevlin. — Engineer  Thomas. — Drivers  Evans  and 
Cassidy. — Their  Courage. — The  Warden's  Duties  and  Re- 
sponsibilities.— Capacity  of  the  Jail. — Civil  Prisoners. — 
Their  Hard  Time — A  House  of  Detention  Wanted. — Disci- 
pline OF  THE  Prisoners. — Their  Tasks  and  Daily  Life.— 
Visiting  Days  and  Visitors. — What  They  Say  and  Do. — Inglis, 
THE  Suspected. — Unpopularity  of  Female  Prisoners. — Prison 
Fare  Not  Hotel  Fare.— Fuchs,  the  Murderer. — How  Prison- 
ers Behave. — Old  Offenders.— Odd  Recreations. — Police 
Kindness. — Incorrigibility  of  "Revolvers"  and  "Rounders."— 
No  Romances  in  Jail  History. 

rriNE  of  the  loveliest  spots  in  the  city  is  Fort  Greene,  or 
llJ  Washington  Park,  as  the  Park  Commissioners 
have  re-christened  it  of  late  years.  It  is  a  graceful  roll- 
ing hill  covering  nearly  one-fifth  of  a  mile  square,  and 
bounded  by  DeKalb  Avenue,  Cumberland  Street,  Myrtle 
Avenue,  Jackson  Street  and  Eaymond  Street.  Covered 
with  velvet  lawns,  vigorous  trees  and  shrubbery,  and 
serpentine  walks,  it  has  long  been  a  favorite  resting-place 
for  young  and  old.  On  it  Washington  made  his  last 
stand  against  the  British  conquest  of  Long  Island.  Its 
western  edge,  once  a  green  meadow,  is  now  set  apart 
for  four  notable  institutions.  At  the  southwestern  end 
is  St.  Phoebe's  Mission,  a  beautiful  building  and  a  more 


406 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


beautiful  tribute  to  a  departed  daughter  by  her  father, 
A.  A.  Low.  In  the  middle  are  the  City  and  Orthopedic 
Hospitals,  two  noble  charities,  whose  only  rivalry  is  in 
the  excellence  of  their  management  and  the  skill  and 
success  of  their  physicians.  At  the  northwest  corner  is 
an  irregular  pile  of  granite  buildings  and  enclosing  walls. 
One  side  faces  Raymond  Street  and  the  other  on  the 
place  where  Willoughby  Street  would  be  if  nature  had 
not  barricaded  its  way  with  Fort  Greene. 

The  surrounding  neighborhood  is  rough,  and  contains 
mostly  rickety  tenement  houses,  stables,  and  ancient 
sheds  and  factories. 

Prior  to  1836  the  present  site  was  occupied  by  a  rude 
'^lock-up"  or  ^'coop,"  similar  to  those  in  use  at  the 
present  day  in  provincial  towns  and  villages  throughout 
the  United  States.  It  afforded  only  a  slight  hold  on  any 
offender  of  the  law  who  chanced  to  be  detained  there, 
and  became  inadequate  to  the  increasing  number  of  crimi- 
nals from  the  several  towns  by  which  it  was  used.  By 
a  resolution  of  the  Kings  County  Board  of  Supervisors 
the  corner  stone  of  a  new  jail  was  laid  and  the  building 
completed  in  1836.  Brooklyn  was  then  little  more  than 
a  village,  and  supplied  the  new  structure  with  about  the 
same  number  of  inmates  as  Williamsburgh,  Bushwick, 
Flatbush,  Flatlands,  New  Utrecht  and  the  other  towns 
of  Kings  County.  The  building  was  a  long  and  narrow 
stone  structure,  two  stories  in  height  and  accommodating 
two  hundred  persons.  It  faced  on  Willoughby  Street, 
and  touched  a  brown-stone  building  used  by  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  and  various  other  county  officials  as  a 
meeting- place. 

With  the  growth  of  the  city  and  the  annexation  of 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  40Y 

Williamsburgh  and  Bush  wick  both  jail  and  building  be- 
came too  crowded  for  further  use.  The  latter  was  con- 
verted into  a  jail,  while  the  former  was  made  a  store- 
house and  omnium  gatherum,"  which  it  has  been  ever 
since.  The  brown-stone  building  was  an  improvement 
upon  its  predecessor,  but  like  it  it  proved  eventually 
too  small  to  accommodate  the  prisoners  sent  there 
from  the  courts.  After  many  suggestions  the  county 
authorities  selected  a  site  for  a  new  and  commodious 
jail  alongside  of  the  old,  and  built  the  present  structure. 
It  was  finished  in  1879  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  best 
edifices  of  its  class  in  the  country.  The  old  jail  was  re- 
fitted and  made  into  a  women's  ward.  The  change  was 
a  wise  one,  as  the  two  together  seem  adequate  for  a 
municipal  population  of  two  millions. 

The  new  structure  is  built  of  granite,  three  stories 
high.  It  is  about  twenty  feet  south  of  the  women's  jail 
and  entirely  surrounded  by  a  wall.  Its  main  entrance 
is  at  the  top  of  a  high  stoop  through  a  large  doorway, 
protected  by  two  heavy  oak  doors  bound  together  with 
thick  iron  bands.  The  windows  are  large,  regular  and, 
as  usual,  hea^aly  barred.  The  entrance  for  vehicles  is 
through  a  lane  between  the  south  wall  of  the  jail  and 
the  granite  enclosure  around  the  east  side  into  the  jail 
yard. 

It  is  paved  with  cobble  stones,  and  has  been  the  scene 
of  many  hangings  and  other  spectacles  of  horror  and 
sorrow. 

Along  the  entire  frontage  on  Raymond  Street  is  a 
space,  between  the  walls  and  sidewalk,  of  about  ten 
feet,  which  is  kept  as  a  lawn,  but  the  grass  is  always 
suggestively  withered  and  dead.    The  general  idea  con- 


408 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


veyed  to  the  stranger's  mind  as  he  gazes  for  the  first 
tirae  on  the  buildings,  is  the  same  as  Dante  said  of  the 
entrance  to  Hades  :  '^Abandon  all  hope  ye  who  enter 
here. " 

Entering  the  jail  at  the  main  entrance  you  find  a  short 
hall  which  crosses  another  at  right-angles.  On  the  left 
is  the  warden's  private  ofiice,  while  just  beyond  is  the 
door  leading  to  the  jail  yard  and  thence  to  the  women's 
prison.  Turning  to  the  left  from  the  warden's  office 
after  crossing  the  main  hall  is  the  reception  room,  op- 
posite to  which  are  the  keepers'  bedrooms.  At  the  end 
of  the  main  hall  is  the  receiving  or  business  ofiice,  through 
which  is  the  only  entrance  to  the  jail  proper.  On  the 
second  fioor  of  the  front  part  of  the  building  are  the 
sheriff's  quarters,  while  the  third  floor  is  used  for  pris- 
oners for  debt  and  the  living  apartments  of  the  war- 
den. 

The  jail  proper  is  built  on  the  block  system — two 
blocks,  composed  of  four  tiers  or  galleries,  containing  four 
hundred  and  thirty-two  cells.  Each  cell  is  ventilated, 
and  provided  with  a  cot  and  the  latest  sanitary  improve- 
ments. Each  is  eight  feet  long  by  five  and  a  half  wide. 
The  walls  are  white -washed  and  painted  outside  ^vith 
disinfecting  paint.  The  tiers  are  made  of  iron,  while 
the  floors  are  concrete  over  heavy  blue-stone  slabs.  The 
lower  floor  is  used  for  prisoners  in  bad  health  but  not 
sick  enough  to  be  sent  to  the  hospital.  This  enclosure 
is  hghted  by  gas  from  sunset  until  sunrise,  which,  al- 
though it  does  not  afford  enough  light  for  the  prisoners 
to  read  by,  makes  the  jail  comparatively  cheerful.  At 
the  extreme  east  end  are  two  long  sinks  and  two  large 
tubs,  which  are  used  as  lavatories.    The  ground  floor 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


409 


beneath  the  front  part  of  the  building  is  used  for  a 
stable,  in  which  are  kept  seven  horses.  These  are  em- 
ployed upon  the  vans,  or  Black  Marias,"  four  in  num- 
ber and  built  of  iron,  with  separate  compartments  for 
men  and  women. 

Emerging  from  the  main  building,  a  walk  of  about 
fifty  feet  across  a  well-paved  yard  brings  you  to  the 
women's  prison  or  ward.  This  is  the  old  building  for- 
merly used  as  a  court-house  and  meeting  place  for  the 
Board  of  Supervisors.  The  inside  of  the  building  is  all 
new  and  divided  into  square  halls  lettered  from  A  to  F. 
These  halls  contain  eighteen  rooms,  each  opening  one  into 
the  other.  Every  room  contains  six  iron  beds,  with 
mattress,  sheets  and  blankets.  Each  hall  has  a  separate 
wash-room.  The  first  floor  is  only  used  for  unruly  pris- 
oners, the  second  to  keep  the  i^risoners  awaiting  trial, 
while  the  third  floor  contains  the  short-time  prisoners. 
Heavily  barred  iron  doors  connect  the  halls  with  the  stair- 
way, but  other  than  this  the  inmates  are  without  res- 
triction. The  rooms  are  well  lighted  by  windows.  The 
ventilation  is  of  the  best.  The  walls  are  hard  finished, 
while  the  sub -base  is  of  oak.  The  old  male  prison  fronts 
along  Willoughby  Street,  but  is  now  only  used  as  a  store- 
house. Around  the  entire  jail  runs  a  wall  fifteen  feet 
high  and  two  feet  thick. 

As  in  all  the  counties  of  the  state,  the  Sheriff  of 
King's  County  is  the  legal  custodian  of  the  jail.  As  a 
matter  of  fact  he  is  seldom  there,  the  more  important" 
duties  of  his  office  keeping  him  in  the  court-house.  His 
deputy  for  jail  purposes  is  known  as  the  Warden. 
The  present  occupant  of  the  office,  Martin  V.  B.  Bur- 
roughs, was  an  active  member  of  the  old  Volunteer  Fire 


410 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Department,  and  since  1865  has  held  many  places  under 
the  city  and  county  government. 

He  has  long  been  an  important  political  factor  in 
South  Brooklyn,  and  especially  in  the  Eighth  and  Twen- 
ty-second Wards.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of 
a  group  of  prominent  Democratic  politicians,  which  in- 
cluded Hon.  John  Delmar,  Hon.  Theophilus  Olena,  Su- 
pervisor Chamberlain,  Supervisor  Lake,  Charles  Vaughan, 
Col.  Michael  Bennett,  Hon.  John  B.  Longley,  Col.  John 
Meyenberg,  Samuel  Hemingway  and  others. 

Prior  to  1885  he  was  a  clerk  in  the  County  Treas- 
urer's office,  under  Hon.  Henry  H.Adams.  Personally  Mr. 
Burroughs  is  genial  and  popular,  while  officially  he  is 
one  of  the  best  disciplinarians  the  jail  has  ever  had. 

The  warden's  staff  comprises  three  keepers  :  Patrick 
Shevlin,  Thomas  Kinney  and  Patrick  Urell ;  a  matron. 
Miss  Mary  Cunningham;  a  visiting  physician,  Dr.  A.  W. 
Shepherd  ;  two  van-drivers,  James  H.  Cassidy  and  Jos- 
eph Evans  ;  and  an  engineer,  ex-Supervisor  E.  J. 
Thomas. 

Keeper  Shevlin  is  admirably  fitted  for  his  place.  Over 
six  feet  high,  he  is  proportionately  wide  and  muscular. 
His  experience  in  positions  of  the  kind  is  long  and  event- 
ful, he  having  served  as  watchman  in  the  Navy  Yard, 
a  seven  years'  term  as  a  keeper  in  the  Penitentiary  and 
four  years  in  his  present  position.  He  bears  an  enviable 
record  for  heroism  as  a  fireman,  having  rescued  four 
lives  in  as  many  fires,  at  the  imminent  risk  of  his  own. 

Engineer  Thomas  is  also  an  old  fire-boy  with  a  record 
and  is,  besides,  a  war  veteran.  He  served  through  the 
great  rebellion  and  took  part  in  the  many  naval  battles 
under  Admiral  Farragut  which  opened  the  Mississippi 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  411 

to  the  noi'thern  forces.  After  the  war  he  took  an  active 
part  in  politics  and  at  one  time  was  Supervisor  of  the 
Fourth  Ward. 

^latron  Cunningham  gained  her  knowledge  by  a  long- 
experience  as  nurse  in  the  Flatbush  Lunatic  Asylum, 
and  at  the  same  time  earned  a  good  reputation  for  kind- 
ness, firmness  and  industry. 

Dr.  A.  W.  Shepherd,  the  visiting  physician  of  the  jail, 
is  one  of  the  best  known  and  respected  professional  men  of 
the  city.  He  gained  his  present  position  years  ago  by 
his  abihty  and  reputation,  and  not  by  attending  primar- 
ies and  conventions.  He  has  remained  ever  since  through 
all  administrations  and  to  all  has  given  satisfaction. 
He  enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  and  lives  in  fine 
style  on  the  corner  of  Willoughby  and  Dutfield  streets. 

Van-drivers  Cassidy  and  Evans  are  known  by  sight  to 
every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  City  of  Churches. 
They  have  driven  the  "  Black  Marias  "  for  many  years  and 
have  never  yet  lost  an  escape."  Both  are  grave,  taci- 
turn and  patient  men,  and  both  are  as  muscular  and 
courageous  as  gladiators.    Evans  has  been  known  to 

knockout "  six  prisoners  who  made  a  simultaneous 
attack  upon  him,  and  scare  them  all  without  caUing  for 
assistance.  Cassidy  has  often  faced  armed  ruffians  de- 
termined to  effect  the  escape  of  a  pal,  and  successfully 
resisted  and  baffied  their  attempts.  Though  silent 
and  reserved  on  duty,  they  are  both  genial  and  interest- 
ing men  when  released  from  ofiicial  business. 

The  duties  of  the  warden  and  keepers  are  many  and 
onerous.  The  jail  is  open  under  the  statutes  at  all  hours 
of  the  day  and  night,  and  one  of  the  keepers  is  always  on 
guard  to  open  the  door.    They  receive  all  prisoners,  and 


412 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


enter  their  names,  addresses,  terms  of  sentence  and 
other  memoranda  upon  the  records.  They  make  up  the 
accounts  upon  which  the  Sheriff  receives  his  monthly 
payments  from  the  Board  of  Supervisors  and  the  Coun- 
ty Treasurer.  They  are  responsible  for  the  prisoners 
and  the  property  of  the  county,  and  also  for  the  condition 
of  the  buildings  and  all  their  inmates.  They  receive 
visitors  and  conduct  them  through  the  cells,  bring  pris- 
oners from  their  rooms  to  consult  with  counsel,  quell 
all  revolts  and  insubordination,  and  oversee  the  work 
of  house- cleaning  and  repairing  required  of  the  inmates 
of  the  jail. 

The  present  capacity  of  the  jail  is  six  hundred  and 
eighty-two  prisoners — four  hundred  and  thirty-two 
males,  a]id  two  hundred  and  fifty  females.  It  has 
never  yet  been  fully  tested,  the  average  number 
being  two  hundred  and  eighty,  of  which  about  fifty  are 
women.  The  exact  number  Saturday  night,  April  23d, 
1887,  was  two  hundred  and  ninety-five. 

The  prisoners  come  mostly  from  the  City  of  Brooklyn, 
although  there  are  always  a  number  of  inmates  who  are 
brought  from  New  York  and  other  cities  to  await  trial, 
having  visited  Brooklyn  to  carry  out  their  crimes  and 
had  their  liberty  long  enough  to  leave  Long  Island. 
Not  a  few  of  the  drunks"  and  one-day  prisoners  hail 
from  New  Jersey.  The  jail  is  used  for  both  civil  and 
criminal  cases.  This  gross  injustice  works  great  hard- 
ships, as  under  the  law  a.  man  can  be  arrested  civilly  for 
an  alleged  slander  or  libel,  a  physician  or  a  dentist  for 
a  mistake  of  judgment,  a  lawyer  for  differences  of  ac- 
count with  his  client,  a  husband  for  the  misdeeds  of  his 
wife,  an  unfortunate  merchant  for  insolvency,  a  divorcee 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  413 

for  non-payment  of  alimony,  a  witness  belonging  to 
some  other  state,  and  any  person  for  an  accident  where- 
by a  third  party  is  injured.  It  would  be  but  fair  to  place 
them  in  a  House  of  Detention,  to  which  no  stigma  is  at- 
tached. To  treat  them  as  common  criminals  in  every 
respect  is  a  relic  of  barbarism.  As  their  escape  makes 
the  Sheriff  pecuniarily  liable,  while  that  of  a  criminal 
costs  him  nothing,  the  civil  prisoner  is  watched  with 
greater  vigilance  and  kept  in  more  secure  quarters  than 
is  the  wrong-doer.  For  this  reason  he  is  usually  incar- 
cerated in  the  top  floor  of  the  building,  where  in  sum- 
mer the  hot  roof  makes  the  rooms  a  perfect  purgatory, 
and  where  in  winter  the  water  in  their  pitchers  frequently 
freezes.  It  is  behoved  that  this  disgraceful  state  of 
affairs  wiU  soon  be  remedied  by  the  Board  of  Supervis- 
ors and  that  an  appropriate  edifice  will  be  erected  for 
civil  prisoners  only. 

The  discipline  enforced  by  Warden  Burroughs  and  the 
keepers  is  admirable.  The  prisoners  are  awakened  at  6 :30, 
A.  M.,  and  receive  breakfast,  consisting  of  a  quart  of 
coffee  and  a  half  pound  of  bread.  All  hands  are  then 
turned  out  of  the  ceUs  and  marched  to  the  tubs,  where 
each  prisoner  is  compelled  to  wash  himself  thoroughly, 
soap  and  towels  being  furnished  in  abundance.  A  short 
time  is  allowed  them  for  exercise  and  then  they  are  re- 
turned to  their  cells.  A  certain  number  are  assigned  to 
the  house-work.  This  consists  of  cleaning  the  corridors, 
walls  and  floors  of  the  jail,  the  yard  and  stable, 
curry-combing  and  rubbing  the  horses,  washing  the  vans, 
painting  worn  surfaces,  distributing  disinfectants.  In 
the  office  the  keepers  are  kept  busy  getting  ready  the 
prisoners  who  are  to  be  taken  to  the  different  courts. 


414 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


After  they  are  safely  in  the  vans  and  driven  off,  the 
prisoners  whose  terms  have  expired  are  discharged  and 
the  books  written  up  by  the  keepers.  By  the  time  this 
is  finished  the  vans  begin  to  return  from  the  courts 
with  the  morning's  commitments.  They  are  registered 
in  the  big  blotter  and  their  full  pedigree  taken.  The 
last  batch  usually  arrives  about  noon,  and  in  time  for  a 
dinner  consisting  of  meat,  or  fish,  potatoes  and  bread. 

After  those  sent  to  the  Penitentiary  have  started  for 
their  destination,  visitors  begin  to  arrive.  Visiting  days 
are  Thursdays  and  Sundays,  and  the  hours  between  two 
and  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  On  the  other  days  of 
the  week  a  number  are  admitted  by  passes  from  the  Un- 
der Sheriff.  On  regular  visiting  days  the  crowd  runs  into 
the  hundreds  and  comprises  people  from  all  walks  in  life. 
Take  a  seat  in  the  receiving  ofhce  any  Sunday  after- 
noon and  you  will  be  interested  during  the  two  hours  set 
apart  for  the  visitors.  At  two  o'clock  sharp  a  keeper 
swings  open  the  big  oak  door  leading  to  the  main  en- 
trance. There,  crowded  together  on  the  to])  step  and 
very  often  on  every  other  step  down  to  the  side -walk,  is 
a  crowd  eagerly  awaiting  entrance.  One  by  one  as  they 
pass  over  the  threshold  the  keeper  searches  them.  Noth- 
ing in  the  way  of  a  knife,  pointed  instrument  or  spiritu- 
ous liquor  is  allowed  to  remain  in  their  possession. 
They  then  pass  along  the  hall  into  the  office  where,  be- 
fore passing  out  into  the  tiers,  they  receive  a  ticket, 
without  which  they  are  unable  to  get  out.  Mothers, 
wives,  daughters,  husbands,  brothers,  friends  and  lovers 
— all  look  anxious  and  eager  to  see  the  one  they  love.  All 
carry  bundles  of  some  kind  and  many  huge  baskets,  filled 
with  good  things  to  eat,  tobacco  and  wearing  apparel. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  415 

Few  speak  to  the  keeper,  but  pass  on  to  the  galleries.  They 
know  where  the  cell  is  and  have  been  there  often  before. 
Now  and  then  some  new  face  appears  and  asks  for  a 
prisoner  just  installed  behind  the  bars.  They  always 
look  more  careworn  and  troubled  at  first,  and  a  mother 
asks  Where  is  my  son  not  giving  any  name.  It  is 
the  first  time  she  has  ever  been  inside  prison  walls  and  slie 
thinks  only  of  the  son  who  has  brought  so  much  trouble 
to  her  heart.  As  time  goes  on  and  the  weeks  lengthen 
into  months,  the  mother  or  sweetheart  takes  the  situa- 
tion in  a  more  matter  of  fact  way;  the  prayer  books  and 
religious  tracts  are  succeeded  by  light  reading  matter, 
which,  with  a  cheerful  countenance  displayed  by  the 
giver,  does  more  to  brighten  up  the  prisoner  than  aught 
else. 

When  that  fellow  Inglis  was  here,  suspected  of  being 
the  murderer  of  Lyman  S.  Weeks,"  said  Keeper  ShevHn, 
'Hhere  used  to  be  a  little  girl  about  fifteen,  pretty  and 
lively  as  a  cricket,  come  to  see  him.  She  seemed  to 
brighten  the  jail  the  moment  she  entered.  She  used  to 
wear  a  blue  dress  and  a  big  hat  stuck  on  the  back  of  her 
head.  Inglis  would  be  dull  and  moody  all  the  morning, 
but  after  she  had  gone,  with  a  pleasant  ^  good-bye '  to  the 
keepers,  he  would  not  show  any  signs  of  down-hearted- 
ness  for  thirty-six  hours.  And  I  don't  think  she  ever 
hardly  spoke  of  the  alleged  crime  while  she  was  at  his 
cell  door. " 

Over  in  the  women's  ward  visitors  are  not  so  thick. 
The  female  prisoners  seem  to  have  fewer  friends  in  the 
time  of  need.  They  are  subjected  to  less  solitude  than 
the  males  and  seldom  require  disciplining  in  any  form. 
The  vast  majority  are  poor  drunkards,  who  have  lost 


416 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


home,  family,  reputation,  and  hope  through  liquor,  and 
who  take  incarceration  with  an  equanimity  that  would  be 
perfect  were  it  not  for  the  perpetual  craving  of  their 
stomach  and  nerves  for  stimulants. 

At  five  o'clock  on  visitors'  days  the  callers  leave,  and 
the  debris  they  have  left  is  swept  up.  At  six  supper  is 
served,  the  bill  of  fare  being  the  same  as  at  breakfast. 
The  table-ware  is  primitive,  consisting  of  a  tin  cup  al- 
most as  large  as  a  tomato-can,  which  irreverent  jail-birds 
style  a  growler,"  a  tin  plate  and  sometimes  a  tin  spoon. 
The  food,  though  plain,  is  good  and  wholesome.  It  is 
varied  from  day  to  day,  so  as  to  give  the  dietetic  varia- 
tion required  by  health.  Its  plainness  is  not  relished  by 
prisoners  accustomed  to  other  fare.  Fuchs,  the  German 
who  murdered  his  wife's  paramour  and  cut  the  corpse 
into  fragments,  revolted  against  the  white  bread  supplied 
to  him,  and  although  eager  to  escape  the  gallows  threat- 
ened to  starve  himself  to  death  unless  provided  with  rye 
bread,  butter  and  Swiss  cheese.  Nearly  all  the  male 
prisoners,  however,  receive  delicacies  from  friends  and 
relatives,  and  so  do  not  complain. 

Female  prisoners  appear  habituated  to  privation  and 
insufficient  food,  and  receive  their  rations  with  some  ap- 
parent degree  of  pleasure.  At  dusk  the  great  hall-lights 
are  turned  on  and  at  eight  most  of  the  inmates  are  doz- 
ing. 

The  conduct  of  prisoners  presents  the  widest  varia- 
tions. Those  who  are  hard  drinkers  in  liberty  experience 
the  greatest  pain.  Some  give  vent  to  their  feelings  in 
fiendish  yells  and  imprecations  ;  others  Undergo  a  tem- 
porary illness  in  the  nature  of  delirium  tremens  ;  others 
again  are  so  prostrated  as  to  be  hardly  able  to  move  ivom 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  417 

their  cots.  To  all  of  these  is  administered  a  nauseous 
mixture,  con'feisting  of  cheap  whiskey,  iron,  quinine  and 
some  drug  with  a  disgusting  taste.  One  dose  generally 
cures  the  craving.  Prisoners  who  are  not  drunkards 
seldom  display  their  feelings  by  much  noise.  Those  who 
are  imiocent  and  those  who  have  committed  their  first 
offense  usually  feel  their  disgrace  keenly,  and  mope  and 
brood  in  silence.  Some  break  down  and  rival  women  in 
nervous  attacks,  weeping  and  hysteria.  Others  display 
a  philosophic  calm  and  wait  patiently  until  they  are 
transferred  or  discharged. 

Old  offenders  sometimes  treat  their  incarceration  as  a 
huge  joke,  and  keep  up  their  spirit  by  ribaldry  and  pro- 
fane conversation.  Others  beg  for  reading  matter  and 
try  to  bury  their  thoughts  in  novels  or  books  of  travel. 
A  third  class  try  to  while  away  their  time  in  sleep,  or  in 
some  occupation  which  requires  thinking  and  careful  at- 
tention. One  German  who  occasionally  receives  a  ^Hen- 
dollar  or  ten-day "  sentence  for  disorder  and  drunken- 
ness, consumes  every  spare  moment  in  durance  vile  in 
building  full-rigged  ships  inside  of  narrow-mouthed  bot- 
tles. The  feat  is  a  difficult  one,  and  when  successfully 
accomplished  often  realizes  a  few  dollars  for  the  maker. 
Another  revolver,"  as  those  frequently  imprisoned  for 
drunkenness  are  called,  is  an  old  sailor,  who  in  his  sober 
moods  turns  out  handsome  toy  sloops  and  schooners  with 
remarkable  quickness  and  skill. 

The  short-term  prisoners  constitute  a  large  majority. 
Most  of  them  are  ' '  sent  up  "  for  drunkenness  ;  a  few 
for  assault  and  battery  or  disorderly  conduct.  Their 
physical  condition  when  they  reach  the  cells  is  a  high 
compliment  to  the  police  force.    No  matter  how  dis- 


418 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


orderly  or  pugnacious  they  are,  or  how  much  provoca- 
tion they  give  the  officer,  it  is  exceedingly  rare  for  the 
latter  to  lose  his  temper  and  use  the  club.  As  a  result, 
the  broken  heads,  bruised  arms  and  sore  muscles,  so 
common  to  their  class  in  other  cities  where  the  constable 
never  tires  of  wielding  the  baton,  are  seldom  seen  at  the 
jail. 

An  unfortunately  large  fraction  of  this  class  of  offend- 
ers appears  to  be  incorrigible.  Dr.  M.  Dugdale,  who 
gave  the  subject  great  attention,  once  said  before  the 
Brooklyn  Philosophical  Society:  "After  many  years  the 
action  of  the  alcohol  and  the  habits  produced  by  its  use 
are  no  longer  resisted  by  the  human  system,  but  affect 
the  confirmed  drunkard  organically.  He  undergoes  a 
change  and  can  no  longer  modify  his  second  nature,  but 
remains  a  charge  upon  society  all  his  life,  and,  trans- 
mitting his  tendencies  to  the  next  generation,  creates  a 
new  set  of  drunkards,  for  which  the  State  is  compelled 
to  make  provision."  His  views  are  confirmed  by  the 
opinions  of  Deputy  County  Clerk  Daniel  M.  Tredwell,  a 
distinguished  writer — Hon.  Eipley  Ropes,  of  the  State 
Charities  Association,  Justice  Andrew  Walsh  and  others 
who  have  studied  the  facts. 

It  may  disappoint  romantic  young  ladies  and  lovers 
of  fiction,  but  thus  far  in  the  history  of  the  jail  there 
has  not  been  one  instance  of  the  innocent  pursued  by 
the  villain  being  unjustly  incarcerated.  Of  course  num- 
berless w^omen,  especially  pretty  ones,  and  many  men 
claim  that  they  are  the  victims  of  vile  conspiracies. 
But  in  every  case  the  Sheriff  has  record  of,  the  woman 
turned  out  to  be  an  adventuress  or  even  worse,  and  the 
man  to  be  a  knave  or  a  professional  wrong-doer.  The 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  419 

falsehood,  however,  is  a  profitable  one.  When  joined 
with  religious  hypocrisy  it  dupes  the  missionaries  who 
daily  visit  the  jail,  and  invariably  wins  the  sympathy 
and  its  practical  expression  from  kind-hearted  but  fool- 
ish men  and  women.  Generally  these  impostors  are 
exposed  by  the  police.  Some  officer  who  knows  them 
learns  of  their  incarceration  and  reveals  their  identity 
or  record.  These  are  added  to  the  blotter  and  frequently 
offer  a  grotesque  contrast  to  the  imaginary  pedigree  " 
given  by  the  offender. 


CHAPTEB  XXIIL 


THE  PENITENTIARY. 


The  Bastile  of  Brooklyn.— Its  Appearance  and  Beauty. — Its  En- 
trance LIKE  Dante's  Inferno — The  Interior. — The  Cells 
AND  the  Oubliettes. — The  Dreary  Court- Yard. — The  Fe- 
male Prison. — Bits  of  Beauty. — Decorating  the  Cells  op  the 
Unfortunates. — The  Three  Matrons. — Kate  Manning,  the 
Beautiful  House-Thief. — Mrs.  Melville,  the  Would-be 
Child-murderer. — Ella  Larrabee,  the  Female  Burglar. — 
Punishment. — Discipline. — Warden  Green's  Splendid  Services. 

HE  Brooklyn  Penitentiary,  Crow  Hill,  is  rather  pleas- 
ing to  the  eye  ;  its  surroundings  present  a  beautiful 
rural  aspect.  In  front  are  great  level  meadows,  thickly 
carpeted  with  grass  and  dotted  with  noble  trees,  under 
which  cattle  rest  their  broad  sides  and  contentedly  chew 
the  cud.  The  four  thoroughfares — Crown  Street,  Presi- 
dent Street,  Nostrand  Avenue  and  Eodgers  Avenue — 
which  surround  the  Penitentiary  site  are  all  of  generous 
width  and  are  beautifully  edged  with  trees.  The  main 
edifice  is  built  in  the  Middle  English  Castellated  style  of 
architecture,  of  a  dark  blue  stone,  enlivened  occasionally 
by  a  white  square  of  granite  which  adds  greatly  to  the 
general  appearance.  Wide  stone  steps  lead  to  the  large 
entrance  doors,  and  here  all  beauty  ends.  The  high 
stone  wall  surrounding  the  block  stamps  it  Prison," 
and  the  small  turret  on  each  corner,  pierced  with  win- 
dows on  every  side,  adds  strength  to  the  impression.  ' 

Pull  the  old-fashioned  brass  bell,  and  in  a  few  seconds 
masculine  footsteps  are  heard  along  the  corridor.  Then 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  421 

a  man  with  a  blue  suit  and  brass  buttons  unlocks  the 
barred  door  with  a  key  that  Peter  would  blush  to  car- 
ry.   He  swings  the  door  slowly  open  and  asks  : 
What  do  you  want  ?  " 
''To  see  the  Warden." 

Follow  your  nose  if  it  be  straight,  until  you  come  to  a 
door  labeled  ''Office."  The  front  door  closes  with  a 
heavy  clang  and  the  world  is  locked  out.  Clatter, 
patter  resound  your  heels  on  the  corridor  floor  ;  and  in  a 
brief  space  you  are  in  the  presence  of  Warden  Green. 
With  a  most  courteous  manner,  his  blue  eyes  gleaming 
with  pleasantry,  he  dons  his  coat  and  offers  to  show  you 
the  land  in  which  he  rules  king  over  life's  unfortunates. 

To  the  right  is  a  door  labeled  "Long  Term  Prison," 
and  to  the  left  "  Short  Term  Prison."  The  interior  ar- 
rangements in  both  are  exactly  alike.  Whitewashed  walls, 
clean  stone  floor,  and  in  the  center  a  tier  of  cells  from 
floor  to  roof,  enclosed  with  iron  balconies.  The  cells  are 
small  square  apartments,  holding  a  cot  and  wash-stand. 
They  are  kept  spotlessly  clean  and  often  decorated  quite 
artistically  by  the  inmates.  Little  bits  of  outside  life 
show  themselves  everywhere.  Pictures  cut  from  papers, 
of  different  people  and  places, are  hung  on  the  white  walls. 
The  iron  doors  are  often  draped  with  muslin  curtains, 
giving  prisoners  a  privacy  otherwise  denied.  Every 
inmate  is  assigned  a  cell  when  he  begins  his  sentence, 
and  this  is  his  home  until  liberated.  Several  dark  cells 
with  blind  doors,  or  oubliettes,  as  our  Gallic  neighbors 
call  them,  occupy  a  conspicuous  position.  They  are 
furnished  with  a  hard  bed,  whose  mattress  is  of  planks, 
and  are  entirely  devoid  of  light.  An  unruly  prisoner  is 
put  in  here,  and  is  his  own  jailor.    That  is,  so  soon  as  liQ 


422 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


repents,  so  soon  is  he  liberated  ;  but  until  then  he  re- 
mains solitary,  in  darkness  and  with  no  nourishment 
but  bread  and  water. 

When  leaving  the  main  building,  the  enclosed  space 
does  not  look  inviting.  The  several  large  red  brick  build- 
ings are  plain  and  ancient  in  design.  The  wide  walks  are 
bare,  and  the  few  grass  plots  enclosed  by  small  white 
fences  do  not  enliven  the  aspect.  The  female  prison  has 
one  hundred  and  nine  inmates,  of  whom  six  are  for  life. 
Their  cells  are  very  neat  and  show  the  touch  of  woman 
in  everything,  which  is  painfully  absent  in  the  male 
quarters.  The  corridors  are  sweet  with  clinging  vines 
and  blooming  plants,  which  are  donated  by  friends  and 
charitable  persons  to  the  prisoners  every  Easter.  They 
are  very  tenderly  cherished  and  when  the  term  of  one 
expires  she  always  presents  her  flowers  to  some  fellow- 
prisoner  who  is  yet  to  remain  behind  the  bars.  If  the 
prison  is  not  crowded  the  life-prisoners  are  made  as  com- 
fortable as  the  Matron  can  contrive.  They  have  two 
cells  assigned  to  them,  one  being  a  bed-room,  while  the 
other  answers  as  a  parlor.  These  they  are  anxious  to 
have  look  as  nice  and  neat  as  may  be.  In  several  are 
small  altars,  arranged  to  the  best  of  the  prisoners'  ability. 
During  the  day  they  sit  in  the  corridor  sewing  and  talk- 
ing quietly  among  themselves.  Some  few  work  in  the 
shoe  factory  which  stands  some  one  hundred  yards  dis- 
tant. They  generally  long  for  occupation  and  welcome 
work  as  a  boon. 

The  women  are  entirely  under  the  control  of  the- ma- 
tron, Mrs.  McKearan,  a  pleasant -faced,  silver-haired 
lady.  Mrs.  Cannion  is  the  kitchen  matron  and  Miss  Dun- 
lea  vy  matron  of  the  shoe-factory.  There  are  some  twelve 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  423 

female  colored  prisoners,  one  serving  a  life  term  for  kill- 
ing her  child.  Among  the  notable  prisoners  is  Kate 
Manning,  who  stands  at  the  head  of  her  profession  as  a 
thief.  She  has  been  the  subject  of  many  a  newspaper 
item  and  is  singularly  interesting.  In  appearance  she  is 
tall  and  slenderly  built,  but  of  beautifully  rounded  pro- 
portions. Her  complexion  is  fair  and  her  hair  yellow. 
She  is  said  to  be  a  jDerfect  mistress  of  six  different  lan- 
guages and  to  be  equally  well  educated  in  other  branches. 
Her  hfe  in  prison  differs  entirely  from  that  of  other  con- 
victs. She  never  makes  any  acquaintances  nor  permits 
the  least  conversation  between  herself  and  the  other 
women.  She  receives  no  letters  and  writes  none,  and  she 
never  has  a  visitor.  There  has  never  been  a  time  when 
she  earned  reproof.  Her  work  is  done  well  and  with  de- 
spatch, and  she  has  never  been  heard  to  make  a  complaint 
or  to  ask  a  privilege,  although  she  stands  in  favor  with 
all  the  matrons.  Kate  has  twice  escaped  from  Sing  Sing, 
and  it  seems  almost  impossible  to  keep  her  locked  up 
when  she  wants  to  get  out.  Her  system  of  thieving  is 
to  engage  herself  as  a  domestic  servant  in  some  well-to- 
do  household  and,  after  working  for  three  days  at  the 
most,  to  disappear  with  the  valuables.  What  becomes  of 
them  and  who  assists  her  has  never  been  known.  She 
is  very  anxious  to  keep  people  from  seeing  her  face. 
When  visitors  go  into  the  jail  she  always  runs  and  hides. 
Her  movements  are  quick  and  graceful.  Where  she 
goes  when  released  they  never  know,  but  she  is  always 
brought  back.  Never  before  did  she  express  the  least  re- 
gret at  her  actions,  but  the  last  time  she  told  Miss  Dun- 
leavy,  matron  of  the  shoe  factory,  that  she  would  en- 
deavor to  keep  outside  of  prison  walls  forever  hereafter. 


424 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


Mrs.  Melville,  who  chained  a  child  to  the  floor  in  order 
to  get  the  money  that  would  come  to  her  in  case  it  died, 
sits  quietly  sewing  in  the  whitewashed  corridors  all  day 
long.  She  talks  to  her  fellow- prisoners  about  her  deed 
without  the  least  show  of  feeling.  Her  excuse  for  the 
outrageous  treatment  of  the  helpless  child  is  that  she 
found  the  stair-carpet  torn,  and  it  hurt  her  to  think  the 
child  was  so  naughty  and  ungrateful  to  her.  All  the  pris- 
oners when  in  company  talk  over  what  they  were  put  in 
for  and  tell  how  it  was  done  with  a  great  show  of  brag. " 
Some  even  tell  how  they  killed  husband  and  children  as 
we  would  relate  an  interesting  story  we  have  read.  One 
of  the  life  prisoners  has  a  very  gentle  face  and  manner. 
She  does  her  duties  carefully  and  is  very  quiet  and  sad. 
Some  twenty  years  she  has  been  confined  within  four 
walls.  What  for  ?  Well,  she  had  a  brutal  husband  who 
used  to  come  home  dmnk  and  beat  her.  She  was  com- 
pelled to  work  to  maintain  herself  and  child.  One  night, 
being  driven  to  desperation  by  the  blows  of  her  cowardly 
husband,  she  picked  up  her  baby,  and  rushing  from  the 
house  determined  to  cast  both  herself  and  child  into  the 
river.  On  the  muddy  banks  the  wretched  woman  stood. 
One  silent  kiss — she  was  long  past  tears — and  she  threw 
her  baby  far  out  into  the  rushing  waters.  One  tiny 
scream  smote  the  mother's  ears  and  awakened  the 
crazed  memory  ;  but  with  it  the  child  sank  and  its  little 
innocent  soul  left  its  body  forever.  Eealizing  what  she 
had  done  the  mother  left  the  river  and  wandered  aim- 
lessly back  into  the  city.  Of  course  she  was  arrested, 
tried  and  sentenced  for  life,  while  the  cause  of  it  all  was 
left  quietly  alone  by  the  law. 

Among.the  other  life  prisoners  is  Mary  Brooks,  who  was 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  425 

convicted  of  poisoning  her  step-daughter,  but  is  beheved 
to  have  poisoned  fifteen  persons  before  the  commission  of 
that  crime.  She  is  a  large,  loosely-built  woman,  with  a 
hard  countenance — one  that  looks  capable  of  committing 
such  deeds.    She  has  been  twenty-five  years  in  prison. 

Polly  Frisch  has  already  served  twenty-seven  years  of 
a  Ufe  term  for  killing  her  husband  and  two  children. 
She  is  about  fifty-five  years  old  and  looks  good  for 
twenty  years  yet.  The  histories  of  all  these  life-term 
prisoners,  in  fact,  are  more  or  less  interesting. 

The  rules  governing  the  female  prisoners  are  very 
simple.  They  are  required  to  rise  at  5:30  a.  m.,  break- 
fast at  6,  go  to  work  at  7  and  toil  until  6  p.  m.,  with  an 
hour  for  dinner.  They  can  retire  at  any  hour  they 
please.  Warden  Green  does  not  now  allow  the  women 
to  receive  male  visitors  as  he  did  formerly.  Whenever 
a  good-looking  female  was  sentenced,  a  whole  regiment 
of  uncles,  cousins,  fathers  and  brothers  were  sure  to 
haunt  the  prison  on  all  sorts  of  excuses,  and  the  privi- 
lege was  thereupon  withdrawn. 

Romance  is  often  found  within  prison  walls.  Wives 
have  met  with  husbands  whom  they  had  not  seen  for 
years.  A  great  many  people  have  heard  of  Ella  Larrabee, 
who  is  famous  in  her  line  as  a  burglar.  She  recently 
served  her  third  term,  which  was  for  three  and  a  half 
years,  and  earned  her  release  last  May.  When  she  was 
serving  her  second  term  her  mother  came  to  see  her  one 
day,  and  as  they  were  about  to  part  the  male  prisoners 
came  marching  to  their  cells  from  the  work-shop.  The 
visitor  caught  her  daughter  by  the  arm,  and  pointing  to 
one  of  the  prisoners  said:  "Ella,  there  is  your  father." 
There  were  no  screams  or  fainting,  as  in  novels  or  modern 


420 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


melodramas;  no  happy  reconciliations,  but  the  young- 
girl  looked  quietly  on  the  father,  in  convict  garb,  whom 
she  had  never  seen  before  in  her  hf e.  It  seems  that  when 
a  young  man  the  father  belonged  to  a  good  family.  In 
a  foolish  moment  he  won  the  love  of  a  servant  in  his  own 
household,  and  in  a  short  time  was  a  father  without 
being  a  husband.  Consequently,  when  the  mother  had 
been  delivered  and  was  able  to  be  about,  they  came  to 
Brooklyn  and  left  the  wee  babe  on  a  doorstep.  It  was 
found  by  a  policeman  and  shortly  after  adopted  by  two 
good,  honest  but  childless  people.  They  did  their  best  to 
rear  the  girl  in  ways  that  were  straight,  but  from  the 
time  she  could  creep  she  would  take  things  without  ask- 
ing permission.  She  kept  on  in  her  dishonest  ways  until 
she  became  an  expert  thief  and  finally  landed  in  jail,  as 
all  such  experts  do.  Long  before  this  period  the  father 
had  wearied  of  his  humble  love  and  the  two  had  drifted 
apart.  Quite  strange  to  say,  each,  unknown  to  the  other, 
kept  track  of  the  child  ;  and  when  she  went  to  jail  on 
her  first  term  her  mother  visited  her  and  introduced  her- 
self to  the  woman  she  had  deserted  in  babyhood  some 
twenty  years  before.  Ella  had  no  love  for  the  new 
mother,  but  the  acquaintanceship  was  maintained.  The 
father  had  married  several  times  in  the  course  of  these 
years,  and  had  donated  many  f  oundhngs  to  doorsteps  and 
charitable  homes.  He  had  needed  some  extra  money 
and  tried  to  obtain  it  by  means  which  the  law  condemns, 
and  being  caught,  was  sent  to  prison.  He  knew  his 
daughter  was  there,  and  so  they  met.  When  released, 
he  offered  to  take  Ella,  but  she  refused  and  returned  to 
the  parents  of  her  adoption  to  stay  until  her  mania  for 
larceny  once  again  sent  her  to  jail. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  427 

She  has  worked  in  the  shoe  shop  in  the  Penitentiary, 
and  is  skillful  in  every  branch  of  the  trade.  There  is 
something  appropriate  in  this,  as  it  was  her  small  foot- 
prints which  she  left  in  the  ground  at  the  scene  of  her 
last  burglary  that  led  to  her  arrest.  Her  prison  life 
was  gilded  with  quite  a  romance.  She  had  only  been 
under  Warden  Green's  charge  a  few  months  when  a 
young  farmer,  Daniel  Shrague,  from  Connecticut,  pre- 
sented himself  one  day  at  the  prison  and  begged  for  an 
interview  with  the  fair  young  offender.  To  the  surprise 
of  Ella,  the  young  man  declared  that  he  had  fallen  in 
love  with  her  after  reading  the  reports  of  her  exploits  in 
the  papers,  that  he  was  more  and  more  charmed  now 
that  he  had  met  her,  and  that  he  was  willing  then  and 
there  to  make  her  his  wife,  if  a  pardon  could  be  obtained. 
He  even  went  so  far  as  to  tell  Warden  Green  that  if  a 
minister  could  be  summoned  he  Avould  marry  Ella  on  the 
spot  and  take  the  chances  of  securing  her  liberty  after- 
wards. On  Mr.  Green's  advice,  the  young  farmer  from 
Connecticut  agreed  to  postpone  the  nuptials  until  Judge 
Moore,  who  imposed  sentence,  was  communicated  with. 
Judge  Moore  refused  to  recommend  a  pardon  for  Ella, 
and  Mr.  Shrague  returned  to  his  Connecticut  farm,  but 
not  until  he  had  most  solemnly  proinised  to  marry  Ella 
as  soon  as  her  term  was  completed.  For  several  months 
Ella  continued  to  receive  love-letters  from  Connecticut, 
but  they  grew  less  and  less  effusive  in  their  protestations  of 
affection,  and  finally  ceased  altogether.  When  Ella, 
however,  discarded  her  prison  garb  and  Mr.  Green  es- 
corted her  to  the  door,  she  recalled  the  young  farmer's 
promise  of  two  years  ago,  and,  looking  around,  asked: 

Where  is  Mr.  Shrague?"    There  was  no  response,  and 


428 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


with  a  smile  Ella  bade  Mr.  Green  good-bye  and  departed 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bass,  the  chaplain  of  the  institution, 
who  had  taken  a  great  interest  in  the  reformation  of  the 
young  woman  and  made  arrangements  to  provide  her 
with  a  home  a  considerable  distance  from  Brooklyn. 

The  male  convicts  wear  gray  striped  suits,  and  the  fe- 
male prisoners  plain  waists  and  full  skirts  of  coarse  blue 
cloth.  None  of  them  care  to  read  much,  but  they  all 
like  to  attend  service  on  Sundays.  They  have  Catholic 
service  in  the  forenoon  and  Protestant  in  the  afternoon. 
Many  of  them  attend  both.  The  men  are  all  employed 
in  the  shoe  factory.  They  work  very  quietly,  but  they 
do  not  like  to  keep  silent.  Like  women,  they  want  to 
talk,  but  great  placards  say:  ^'The  men  employed  by 
this  firm  are  under  no  consideration  allowed  to  talk  or 
speak  to  the  prisoners. "  Nor  are  prisoners  allowed  to 
converse  during  the  day.  The  keepers  say  the  quickest 
way  to  subdue  a  man  is  to  enforce  solitude.  It  kills  a 
man  quicker  than  anything  else  would,  and  keeps  him 
from  talking. 

There  are  404  long-term  male  prisoners  and  329  short- 
term  prisoners  in  the  Penitentiary  at  the  present  writing. 
The  prison  has  been  open  to  the  public  some  thirty 
years. 

The  largest  number  of  prisoners  ever  sentenced  in  one 
year  was  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy.  There 
are  some  fifteen  bigamists  now  suffering  the  penalty  of 
a  too  warm  heart.  The  rules  of  the  place  allow  them 
to  see  wife  No.  1  if  they  wish,  but  refuse  to  admit  the 
others.  Quite  up  to  human  disposition,  they  never  want 
to  see  No.  1,  but  always  long  for  the  last  one  added  to  the 
list.    One  who  is  now  in  prison  has  had  six  wives 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  429 

in  his  short  time.  Becker,  the  expert  forger,  who  flooded 
Turkey,  Italy  and  France  with  counterfeit  money,  is 
one  of  the  conspicuous  guests.  He  got  §64,000  on  a 
note  from  the  Trust  Company,  and  was  offered  $250  a 
week  by  the  Bank  of  France  if  he  would  do  work  for 
them.  He  refused  with  scorn.  He  is  a  rather  prepos- 
sessing man  of  medium  height  and  weight,  brown  hair 
and  gray  eyes.  He  is  pleasant  to  talk  with,  and  im- 
presses one  as  being  very  intelligent. 

The  management  by  Warden  G-reen  deserves  especial 
credit.  While  a  strict  disciplinarian,  he  does  his  best  to 
improve  the  moral,  intellectual  and  physical  condition  of 
his  wards.  Many  prisoners  enter  duress  suffering  from 
serious  diseases.  Nearly  all  are  discharged  in  a  condition 
of  good  health.  For  tho3e  who  desire  instruction  or  read- 
ing every  facility  is  provided.  Strange  to  say,  the  con- 
victs do  not  seem  to  take  much  to  books  or  literature  of 
any  sort,  unless  it  be  a  local  newspaper  or  some  sporting 
periodical.  Mr.  Green  says  that  he  was  astonished 
when  he  first  took  office  at  the  indifference  displayed  in 
the  premises  by  the  prisoners  ;  that  though  they  have 
hours  and  days  of  leisure  during  their  terms  of  sentence, 
they  seldom  express  a  desire  to  use  the  works  in  the 
library  which  the  courtesy  of  philanthropic  citizens  has 
presented  to  the  Penitentiary. 

In  the  few  instances  where  revolt  threatened  the  lives 
of  the  keepers  and  the  safety  of  the  inmates,  Warden 
Green  has  displayed  a  cool  self-possession  and  a  superb 
courage  worthy  of  admiration.  Each  case  was  quelled, 
and  the  ringleader  or  ringleaders  punished  in  almost  less 
time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it.  Besides  the  discipline  so 
sturdily  maintained,  Warden  Green  makes  it  a  special 


430 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


duty  to  keep  the  buildings  and  grounds  in  the  best  sani- 
tary condition.  In  crowded  places  of  this  character  there 
is  always  danger  of  disease  ;  jail  fever,  malarial  troubles 
and  epidemics  are  matters  of  everyday  occurrence.  Only 
eternal  vigilance  in  such  cases  can  preserve  the  health  of 
the  inmates.  Cleanliness,  disinfection  and  prompt  med- 
ical attendance  enable  Mr.  Green  to  succeed  in  his  en- 
deavor— an  endeavor  whose  success  is  an  affair  of  most 
pleasant  notoriety  throughout  the  land. 

The  convicts,  despite  the  Constitutional  Amendment 
which  was  passed,  prohibiting  contract  prison-labor,  are 
still  engaged  upon  that  kind  of  work,  in  pursuance  of  a 
contract  between  the  authorities  and  the  Bay  State  Shoe 
and  Leather  Company.  The  business  done  by  the  cor- 
poration this  way  is  vast  and  very  profitable.  As  it  re- 
quires some  time  to  teach  a  man  to  learn  one  of  the  forty- 
five  arts  now  required  to  make  a  shoe,  it  is  clear  that  long- 
term  prisoners  are  much  more  remunerative  than  short- 
term  ones.  For  this  reason  the  public  officials  for  many 
years  have  pursued  the  uniform  policy  of  restricting  the 
short-term  prisoners  as  much  as  possible  to  the  jail  in  Eay- 
mond  Street,  and  of  not  sending  long-term  convicts  to  any 
one  of  the  State's  prisons,  as  under  the  Revised  Statutes 
they  have  the  po^\  er  to  do.  The  treatment  of  the  convicts 
by  the  corporation  is  in  the  main  just  and  equable.  While 
instances  of  serious  harshness,  injustice  and  cruelty  are 
frequently  published,  most,  on  investigation,  prove  to  be 
gross  exaggerations,  and  very  many  to  be  purely  myth- 
ical, while  those  which  are  fully  authenticated  are  ex- 
tremely rare. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


POLICE  COURTS  AND  JUSTICES. 


The  City  Police  Court. — A  Handsome  Structure. — Justice  Andrew 
Walsh. — First  District  Court. — Its  Extent. — Justice  Massey.— 
Second  District  Court. — Justice  Kenna. — His  Career. — Third 
District  Court. — Justice  Naeher  and  His  "Crank"  Callers. 

THE  CITY   POLICE  COURT, 

NE  of  the  finest  structures  of  its  kind  in  the  coun- 
LJ  try,  is  located  on  Adams  Street,  near  Myrtle 
Avenue.  It  was  built  in  1886  under  the  direction  of 
Parfitt  Bros.,  and  covers  a  plot  about  52  feet  wide  by 
119  feet  deep,  extending  from  Adams  Street  to  Flood's 
Alley.  The  style  of  architecture  is  Eoman,  and  the 
materials  used  in  its  construction  are  brick  and  terra- 
cotta, with  a  little  blue-stone.  The  court -room  is  situ- 
ated on  the  second  floor,  and  measures  about  41x43  feet. 
It  is  well  lighted  by  five  large  windows  and  a  skylight. 
The  judge's  apartment  faces  on  Adams  Street,  while 
adjoining  is  the  private  examination  room.  The  clerk's 
room  is  immediately  in  front  of  the  judge's  private 
oflice. 

Besides  the  justice,  there  are  eight  persons  connected 
officially  with  the  court — the  chief  clerk,  his  two  assist- 
ants, a  stenographer  and  four  officers.  Police  Justice 
Andrew  Walsh,  who  presides  over  this  court,  is  forty- 
eight  years  old.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  the 
book-binding  establishment  of  G.  C.  Mann,  Fulton  Street, 


432 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


New  York  City.  Having  served  his  term  of  apprentice- 
ship, he  soon  evinced  an  interest  in  pohtics,  and  v^as 
elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1863.  He  served  two  terms 
and  was  subsequently  appointed  court  clerk  by  Police 
Justice  John  Quincy  Adams.  When  Justice  Buddey 
succeeded  Mr.  Adams  he  re-appointed  Clerk  Walsh,  who 
continued  to  occupy  the  position  until  1869.  Before  the 
year  mentioned,  however,  he  had  been  nominated  by  the 
Democrats  for  Police  Justice,  and  was  elected  by  a  large 
and  handsome  majority. 

On  May  1,  1869,  he  took  his  seat  on  the  Bench,  and 
was  subsequently  re-elected  on  three  successive  occasions 
by  the  people,  each  time  with  a  very  large  majority.  In 
1880  he  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Howell,  and  by  Comp- 
troller Brinkerhoff  in  1884.  Justice  Walsh,  in  his  official 
capacity,  is  known  to  be  just  and  impartial ;  he  is  quick 
to  detect  guilt,  and  only  levies  heavy  penalties  where  he 
thinks  they  will  do  the  most  good.  Mr.  Walsh  is  con- 
nected with  a  number  of  charitable  societies  and  insti- 
tutions. He  is  Treasurer  of  the  Eoman  Catholic  Orphan 
Asylum  Society ;  ex-Treasurer  of  the  Central  Parnell 
organization  ;  Chancellor  of  Concord  Council  Catholic 
Benevolent  Legion  ;  President  of  the  Fifth  Ward  Demo- 
cratic Association,  and  a  member  of  the  Emerald  Asso- 
ciation and  St.  Patrick's  Society. 

FIRST  DISTRICT  COURT. 

The  First  District  Police  Court-house,  at  the  corner  of 
Court  and  Butler  Streets,  was  originally  an  old  Methodist 
meeting-house.  In  1860  it  was  purchased  by  the  city 
and  converted  into  a  court-room,  with  Michael  Walsh  as 
judge.    Justice  Walsh  served  four  years,  and  was  fol- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  433 

lowed,  at  irregular  intervals,  by  John  Delmer,  Daniel 
Ferry  and  Garret  Bergen.  In  ISS-t  the  present  incum- 
bent, Frederick  S.  Massey,  was  appointed  judge.  His 
term  of  office  will  expire  on  May  1,  1889.  The  territory 
embraced  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  First  District 
comprises  the  First,  Sixth,  Twelfth,  Third,  Eighth  and 
Twenty-second  Wards,  and  includes  within  its  bound- 
aries about  200,000  people. 

Justice  Frederick  Sterling  Massey  was  born  on  April 
8,  1839.    Upon  leaving  school  he  entered  upon  a  niercan- 
tile  life,  but  all  his  spare  moments  were  devoted  to  the 
study  of  law.    In  1867  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
appointed  chief  clerk  to  the  District  Attorney.  He 
remained  in  this  position  until  1869,  when  he  was  elected 
President  of  the  paid  Fire  Department.    After  serving 
nearly  ten  years  in  this  capacity  he  was  appointed  to  the 
office  of  President  of  the  Department  of  City  Works. 
In  1880  he  again  began  practicing  law,  and  in  the  three 
years  that  followed  achieved  his  reputation  as  a  first-class 
counsellor.    At  the  death  of  Justice  Francis  B.  Fisher  in 
1883,  lawyer  Massey  was  appointed  in  his  place.    In  1885 
Justice  Massey  was  re-appointed  and  transferred  to  his 
present  position.    He  is  a  lover  of  all  athletic  sports,  and 
in  his  younger  days  was  a  fine  base  ball  player.    He  was 
a  member  of  the  first  nine  of  the  old  Atlantic  Base  Ball 
Club,  and  at  the  convention  of  baU  clubs  in  this  city  to 
arrange  a  match  with  the  old  Philadelphias  was  chosen 
a  player  on  the  championship  nine.    He  was  also  one  of 
the  twenty-two  baU  players  who  played  the  first  English 
Cricket  Eleven  that  came  to  this  country. 
.   Albert  C.  Wheeler,  chief  clerk  to  Justice  Massey,  was 
born  in  October,  1852.    He  had  been  ten  years  as  a  elerk 


434 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


in.  Wall  Street,  New  York,  when  he  received  his  appoint- 
ment as  Chief  Clerk  in  the  Auditor's  Office  under  Albert 
Ammerman.  In  1881  he  became  clerk  of  the  First  Dis- 
trict Police  Court  under  Justice  Garrett  Bergen,  and 
when  Justice  Massey  took  the  Bench  was  re-appointed 
to  the  same  position.  Mr.  Wheeler  is  a  hard  worker  and 
a  great  help  to  Justice  Massey. 

The  other  attaches  of  the  court  are  seven  in  number. 
There  are  two  assistant  clerks,  a  stenographer  and  four 
officers. 

SECOND  DISTRICT  POLICE  COURT. 

The  Second  District  Police  Court  is  situated  on  Gates 
Avenue,  near  Eeid.  Though  neat  and  well  built,  it  is 
hardly  adequate  for  the  business  transacted.  When 
erected,  that  portion  of  Brooklyn  was  very  sparsely  set- 
tled— to  a  very  large  extent  consisting  of  fields  and 
farms.  Its  natural  growth  and  the  wonderful  impetus 
given  to  building  by  the  Elevated  Railroad  have  now 
converted  the  waste  into  a  thickly  populated  community; 
and  as  a  consequence  the  business  transacted  at  this 
court  is  very  large  and  important  in  character.  In  fact, 
the  percentage  of  petty  cases — drunks,  etc. — is  smaller 
than  in  any  other  district  court.  For  the  most  part  the 
cases  consist  of  family  troubles,  which  cannot  be  sum- 
marily dealt  with,  and  which  occupy  considerable  time. 
It  requires  a  thorough  knowledge  of  people  at  large,  a 
quick  intellect  and  a  large  amount  of  common  sense  to 
properly  transact  the  business  of  this  court.  All  these 
qualities  are  possessed  in  a  marked  degree  by  Thomas  P. 
Kenna,  the  handsomest  police  justice  in  Brooklyn,  who 
presides  over  it. 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  435 

He  is  forty-three  years  old.  From  185S  to  1869  he  was 
employed  hy  Marston  &  Powers,  coal  merchants,  at  the 
corner  of  orth  Tenth  and  First  Streets,  and  left  to  ac- 
cept the  office  of  Secretary  of  the  Excise  Commissioners. 

After  his  term  of  office  had  expired  he  was  elected 
Alderman  of  the  Fourteenth  Ward,  and  two  years  later 
Supervisor.  In  1877  he  became  General  Clerk  of  the 
Police  Department,  and  in  1880  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace  of  the  Third  District  Court,  in  Grand  Street. 
In  1884  Justice  Kenna  established  himself  at  the  corner 
of  Fulton  Street  and  Boerum  Place,  and  began  practicing 
law.  He  had  just  built  up  a  good  business,  when  in 
1885  he  was  appointed  a  Police  Justice  and  assigned  to 
the  Second  District  Police  Court. 

He  is  a  natural-born  wit,  and  his  sayings  at  times  make 
even  the  stern  and  solemn- looking  court  officers  smile.  He 
talks  freely  with  the  reporters  attached  to  his  court  and 
helps  them  in  every  way  to  secure  news.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Cecelia  (German)  Singing  Society,  the  Consti- 
tution, the  Kings  County  Democratic  Club,  the  Washing- 
ton Club,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years  foreman  of  old 
Engine  Company  No.  5.  He  was  elected  the  First  Vice- 
President  of  the  Democratic  General  Committee  upon  its 
formation  and  has  remained  in  that  position  up  to  the 
present  time. 

THIRD  DISTRICT  COURT. 

On  the  corner  of  Humboldt  Street  and  Montrose  Ave- 
nue, in  a  large  white-painted  frame  building  on  the 
second  floor,  Judge  Naeher  dispenses  justice  in  the  Third 
District.  The  court-room  is  large  and  airy,  is  painted 
blue  and  furnished  with  a  number  of  benches.  It  is 
divided  into  three  compartments  by  railings  ;  one  for 


436 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


the  spectators,  one  for  the  prisoners,  counsel  and  officers, 
and  the  other  for  the  Judge,  who  sits  behind  an  ordinary 
station-house  office  bar  and  dehvers  sentences  to  divers  in- 
toxicated persons  every  morning.  Ten  days  or  ten  dol- 
lars "  is  probably  the  phrase  mostly  heard  in  this  apology 
for  a  court.  All  sorts  of  petty  grievances  and  family 
troubles  are  aired  here,  and  curious  indeed  are  the  stories 
related  by  some  of  the  cosmopolitan  population,  com- 
posed of  Germans,  French,  Itahans,  Swedes,  etc.,  of  that 
vicinity.  Numerous  cranks  of  all  kinds  make  life  a 
burden  to  ' '  His  Honor. " 

This  court  was  organized  on  May  1,  1881,  aiid  the 
average  number  of  cases  brought  before  it  in  a  year  is 
six  thousand,  giving  an  income  of  about  $5,000  per 
annum.  The  present  location  of  the  court-room  is  in 
every  way  unsuitable,  and  there  is  a  rumor  that  Judge 
Naeher  is  to  have  a  handsome  court  built  alongside  of 
the  proposed  new  station-house  of  the  Sixteenth  Pre- 
cinct, at  the  corner  of  Lee  Avenue  and  Clymer  Street. 
This  court  takes  in  the  Fifth,  Sixth,  Sixth-Sub,  Seventh 
and  Sixteenth  Precincts,  and  there  is  always  on  a  fine 
morning  a  large  number  of  individuals  of  both  sexes 
waiting  the  arrival  of  the  jovial  judge  who  is  to  decide 
their  fate.  Judge  Naeher  is  generally  acknowledged 
to  be  an  able  lawyer,  as  well  as  an  impartial  administrat- 
or of  the  law's  penalties. 

Chief  Clerk  George  Wren  was  born  on  April  29,  1837. 
He  has  served  two  terms  in  the  Assembly,  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  his  present  position  in  1880. 

Justice  Naeher  has  probably  more  experience  with 
those  of  the  human  family  that  have  been  more  or  less 
bereft  of  their  reason  than  any  other  magistrate  iu 


Brooklyn's  guardlaxs.  437 

Kings  County.  These  unfortunate  creatures  flock  to 
court  with  all  sorts  of  stories  which  are  created  in  their 
imperfect  brains.  Just  why  he  is  a  favorite  with  this 
class  it  is  impossible  to  determine,  but  it  is  a  fact  that 
his  court  is  visited  by  hundreds  of  such  people.  His 
kind  disposition  and  patience  with  those  who  have  com- 
plaints to  make  are  well  known.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
these  people  go  to  Justice  Naeher  and  interfere  greatly 
with  the  workings  of  the  court  by  occupying  time  that 
should  be  devoted  to  real  offenses  and  by  sending  court 
officers  long  distances  with  warrants  to  arrest  mythical 
persons. 

A  short  time  ago  Court  Officer  Miller  went  seven  times 
to  as  many  different  places  to  arrest  the  husband  of  a 
woman  who  said  she  and  her  five  children  had  been 
abandoned  by  their  natural  supporter.  After  each  fail- 
ure to  find  the  person  for  whom  the  warrant  was  issued, 
the  woman  would  return  to  court  and  give  a  plausible 
reason  why  the  man  was  not  found.  A  new  address 
would  be  given  and  another  search  made,  to  be  followed 
by  another  failure.  After  the  seventh  trip  it  was  found 
that  the  woman  was  a  harmless  unmarried  crank.  An- 
other case  is  that  of  a  respectable-looking  old  lady  who 
visited  the  court  every  day  for  several  weeks  and  re- 
mained until  removed  by  the  janitor.  When  at  last  her 
presence  attracted  attention,  it  was  learned  that  she 
wished  to  have  a  private  conversation  with  the  Judge. 
She  was  accommodated,  and  in  the  Judge's  private  room 
she  told  of  a  cruel  husband  who  had  deserted  her  for  a 
younger  woman.  Not  satisfied  with  leaving  her  to  battle 
alone  in  the  struggle  of  life,  he  had  concocted  plans  to 
have  her  murdered.    The  statement  went  all  light  until 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


she  became  excited,  and  then  she  said  ^hat  he  had 
secured  the  aid  of  witches  to  help  him  in  his  diabohca] 
plots. 

The  witches  would  penetrate  the  ceiling  of  her  bed- 
room and  hang  down  over  her  bed.  They  could  not  drop 
so  long  as  she  kept  her  eyes  open,  but  if  she  should  ever 
close  both  eyes  she  knew  the  witches  would  drop,  and 
then  she  would  be  killed.  It  was  evident  that  the 
woman  was  insane,  and  she  was  told  that  the  witches 
would  bother  her  no  more.  She  went  home,  but  the 
next  morning  found  her  in  the  same  chair,  and  she 
made  numerous  visits  to  the  court  before  she  was  con- 
vinced that  the  presiding  magistrate  could  not  help  her. 
The  following  letter  was  written  by  a  daughter  of  one  of 
the  wealthiest  men  in  Brooklyn.  She  is  to  all  appear- 
ances perfectly  sane,  and  goes  out  into  society  with  her 
mother  and  sister.  On  one  point  she  is  mentally  un- 
balanced, however,  and  her  hallucination  is  that  robbers 
are  constantly  making  victims  of  herself  and  members 
of  her  family.  The  letter  was  written  May  21,  18S7,  but 
as  the  young  lady's  correspondence  is  watched,  because 
she  would  send  many  such  letters  if  allowed,  only  this 
letter  out  of  many  reached  its  destination.  Here  is  a 
copy  of  the  letter  : 

Brooklyn,  May  21,  1887. 

The  Hon.  Charles  Naeher  : 

.  Sir:  Having  written  to  District  Attorney  Eidgway,  who  is  an 
intimate  friend  of  my  family,  and  also  to  Chief  Campbell,  of  the 
Police  Department,  about  an  important  matter,  and  not  having 
received  proper  replies  from  those  persons,  I  address  you  in 
behalf  of  justice.    I  now  appeal  to  you. 

A  son  of  my  friend  and  neighbor  Mr.  Smith,  has  been  a  wel- 
come visitor  at  my  father's  house,  but  he  has  betrayed  the  con- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  430 

fidence  bestowed  on  him  by  us  all.  Many  valuable  keepsakes 
have  mysteriously  disappeared  from  our  house  recently,  and  I 
set  a  watch  on  all  visitors.  I  saw  this  young  man  steal  my 
mother's  diamond  ear-rings  two  weeks  ago,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  he  is  the  one  who  stole  all  we  have  lost. 

Now,  what  can  we  do  to  recover  our  goods  and  insure  our- 
selves against  further  loss  without  disgracing  our  friends  or 
causing  the  young  man  suffering  ?  I  know  you  will  advise  me, 
and  I  will  make  no  movement  until  I  hear  from  you. 

Yours  truly,  

The  cranks  \vho  visit  Justice  Naeher's  court  have  each 
been  given  a  number  and  it  is  quite  usual  to  hear  one  of 
the  clerks  or  a  lawyer  call  out  '^Number  forty-nine, 
Judge,"  when  a  person  is  telling  His  Honor  that  he 
wants  a  few  moments'  private  conversation.  The  num- 
ber, whether  it  be  forty-nine  or  some  other,  puts  the 
magistrate  on  his  guard  and  saves  him  a  great  many 
conversations  with  cranks. 

All  dangerous  cases,  and  those  in  which  the  afflicted 
are  in  serious  trouble  or  want,  are  promptly  transferred 
to  the  Commissioners  of  Charities.  This  body  has  the 
person  examined  by  competent  physicians.  Most  of 
those  found  insane  are  sent  to  the  asylum  at  Flatbush. 
A  large  minority  are  turned  over  to  relatives  and 
friends. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


THE  COURT  OF  SESSIONS. 


Judge  Moore.— His  Early  Life. —Admitted  to  the  Bar.— Recog- 
nition OP  Merit. — He  is  Elected  Assistant  District  Attorney, 
— The  Right  Man  in  the  Right  Place. — Made  Judge  op  the 
County  Court. — His  Marriage. — A  Fitting  Tribute. — An 
Honest,  Upright,  Just  and  Mercipul  Judge. — How  Various 
Grades  of  Criminals  are  Dealt  With. 

fT  is  seldom  a  court  loses  its  identity  in  a  man  ;  but 
owing  to  the  ability,  reputation  and  long  service  of 
the  presiding  magistrate  the  Court  of  Sessions  in  Kings 
County  has  been  lost  in  its  judge,  Henry  A.  Moore.  Of 
the  many  talented  men  who  have  occupied  its  bench  and 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  public,  none  have  ever 
achieved  such  a  success.  Considering  that  he  is  now  in 
his  fourth  term,  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  history  of  this 
court  is  to  a  large  extent  a  part  of  his  biography,  and 
that  he  and  court  should  be  a  single  individuality  in  the 
public  mind  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn.  His  life,  uneventful 
in  adventure,  is  representative  of  the  careers  of  many  of 
the  great  leaders  of  the  land. 

It  was  on  one  of  those  days  when  the  wind  holds 
Wagneresque  concerts  around  the  corners  of  old  houses, 
tints  the  noses  of  luckless  pedestrians  and  plays  havoc 
with  hats,  that  Henry  A.  Moore  made  his  debut  to  an 
admiring  father  and  mother.  He  was  such  a  plump, 
brown-eyed  boy,  and  blinked  so  wisely  and  questioningly 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  441 

at  the  light  of  this  world  and  the  admiring  faces  above 
him,  that  they  foretold  great  things  in  store  for  him.  It 
was  the  23d  of  March,  18:20,  when  this  babe  was 
welcomed  to  tliis  life  in  a  house  on  Bridge  Street,  near 
Johnson.  Mr.  Henry  A.  Moore,  the  father,  foreseeing, 
it  may  be,  the  brilliant  future  that  lay  before  his  child, 
^visely  determined  to  give  it  all  the  training  and  advan- 
tages so  necessary  in  this  modern  age  of  pressure  and 
competition  to  insure  what  is  fehcitously  called  a  good 
start  in  the  world.  As  early  as  1833  the  name  of  Henry 
A.  Moore,  Jr. ,  is  found  registered  on  the  roll  of  the  public 
school.  He  proved  a  bright  and  interesting  pupil.  His 
memory  even  in  boyhood  was  quick  and  powerful,  his 
assiduity  great,  and  his  reasoning  powers  strong  and 
well  balanced.  After  finishing  this  course,  the  highest 
then  obtainable  in  the  city  of  his  birth,  lie  begaii  the 
serious  work  of  life  by  entering  as  office  boy  and  student 
the  law  offices  of  the  ffi'm  of  Lott  &  Murphy^  afterwards 
L.  M.  Murphy  &  Vanderpelt,  whose  offices  were  then  in 
an  old  stone  building  still  standing  near,  Fulton  Ferry. 
This  firm  was  acknowledged  as  the  leading  one  of  Brook- 
lyn, and  its  members  had  a  national  reputation  for 
forensic  and  legal  talent  of  the  highest  order.  Mr.  Moore 
began  his  studies  with  them  in  1840.  In  those  days  a 
law  clerk's  lot  was  not  a  happy  one.  Law  schools  had 
not  been  invented  to  manufacture  jurists  by  the  whole- 
sale, and  politics  had  not  opened  a  convenient  back  door 
for  ambitious  ward  statesmen  to  enter  the  ranks  of  the 
profession.  In  1847  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  the 
intervening  seven  long  years  of  hard  work  he  had  gained 
a  thorough  practical  knowledge  of  law  and,  what  was  to 
be  of  equal  value  to  him  in  the  future,  a  widespread 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


reputation  for  generosity,  kindness,  courtliness  and 
probity.  After  being  admitted  to  practice,  he  secured 
offices  of  his  own  on  Fulton  Street,  corner-  of  Cranberry, 
a  locality  which  was  then  the  business  center  of  Brook- 
lyn. Here  his  career  was  one  of  never-failing  success. 
At  twenty-eight  he  was  everywhere  regarded  as  the  peer 
of  the  oldest  and  most  influential  practitioners.  He  had, 
moreover,  what  they  had  not — youth  and  popularity  of 
the  best  sort.  His  purse  began  to  increase  with  his  grow- 
ing practice.  Party  leaders  recognized  his  value  as  a  man 
and  as  a  representative,  and  this  recognition  is  always 
utilized  in  the  United  States  by  embodiment  in  election 
or  appointment.  Thus  it  was  that  in  1849,  with 
scarcely  an  effort  on  his  part,  but  with  the  hearty  support 
and  action  of  the  political  leaders  of  the  time,  as  well  as 
of  his  many  friends  and  clients,  he  was  made  Assistant 
District  Attorney,  a  position  then  more  sought  for  and  of 
greater  public  esteem  than  it  is  to-day.  Finding  they 
had  put  the  right  man  in  the  right  place,  and  that  he  was 
in  every  wise  competent  to  fill  a  high  public  office,  the 
public  decided  to  try  him  in  another  and  more  important 
position.  As  Assistant  District  Attorney  he  had  proved 
an  able  prosecutor  and  a  fearless  official.  At  the  same 
time  he  had  always  been  easy  of  access  by  the  public  and 
had  invariably  shown  the  rare  ability  to  temper  justice 
with  mercy  when  demanded  by  the  circumstances  of  a 
case.  These  are  the  qualifications  which  make  a  great 
magistrate.  Little  wonder  was  it,  then,  when  he  was 
nominated  for  Judge  of  the  County  Court  and  elected  in 
the  fall  of  1851  by  a  handsome  majority.  It  never  rains 
but  it  pours.  The  genial  Judge  decided  to  fill  the  cup  of 
happiness  to  overflowing,  and  to  set  an  example  to  those 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIAXS.  448 

of  his  calling  who  selfishly  wrap  themselves  in  the 
mantle  of  celibacy,  hy  taking  a  wife.  He  had  lost  his 
heart  to  a  beantiful  young  lady,  Miss  Fannie  A.  Elwell, 
of  Brooklyn,  and  wisely  offered  to  share  with  her  his 
name,  home  and  future.  The  love  was  mutual  and 
they  were  married  in  1852.  The  union  Avas  a  happy  one 
and  was  blessed  with  children,  who  promise  to  follow  in 
the  footsteps  of  their  parents.  When  Judge  Moore's 
term  of  office  expired  in  January,  1856,  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  law,  and  became  again  a  leader  of  his 
profession.  The  three  years  upon  the  bench  had  been 
invaluable.  To  the  brilliancy  and  dash  of  the  advocate 
they  added  the  dignity,  thoughtful  ness  and  wisdom  of 
the  ermine.  Unlike  others  who,  having  once  tasted  the 
sweets  of  public  life,  are  ever  after  averse  to  retirement, 
and  who  persist  in  obtruding  their  personality  upon  the 
people.  Judge  Moore  was  seemingly  satisfied  to  remain 
in  the  seclusion  which  a  successful  law  office,  a  hand- 
some practice  and  a  happy  home  yield  to  their  possessor. 

During  these  years  he  devoted  his  time  to  reading, 
study  and  public  affairs.  He  was  of  a  group  of  men 
who,  despite  the  unpatriotic  tendencies  engendered  by 
power,  wealth  or  social  position,  are  willing  and  eager  to 
aid  in  solving  the  endless  problem  of  social  amelioration 
and  good  popular  government.  In  the  newspapers  and 
other  records  of  the  time  his  name  is  constantly  found 
identified  with  those  who  did  so  much  towards  making 
Brooklyn  what  it  is  to-day — ^the  finest  and  best  city  of 
homes  in  the  world.  Such  services  are  always  appre- 
ciated. In  1871  he  was  again  elected  County  Judge. 
The  years  1877  and  1883  saw  even  greater  public  honors 
heaped  upon  him,  witnessing  his  election  a  third  and 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


fourth  time,  but  unlike  the  first  and  second,  as  the  loved 
and  unanimous  nominee  of  both  the  great  parties  into 
which  the  citizens  of  Brooklyn  are  divided. 

A  fitting  tribute  and  a  just  estimate  of  Judge  Moore 
vras  well  expressed  by  the  orator  in  the  Eepublican 
County  Convention  that  indorsed  his  nomination,  when 
he  said  : 

There  are  times  in  the  progress  of  political  events 
when  it  is  wise  and  proper  to  break  party  lines  and  con- 
sider exclusively  the  fitness  of  the  individual  for  the 
office  for  which  he  may  be  nominated.  Nowhere  does 
this  law,  if  the  term  '  law '  can  be  applied  to  what  most 
men  regard  as  a  rare  exception,  apply  with  greater  force 
than  to  the  judiciary.  Politics  may  determine  the 
development  of  a  nation  ;  it  may  create  or  destroy  local, 
general  and  even  dynastic  tendencies  ;  but  politics  should 
be  never  permitted  to  invade  the  clear,  calm  atmosphere 
which  should  light  the  courts  of  justice.  It  enters  not 
into  justice,  it  is  not  found  in  mercy,  nor  has  it  place  in 
that  judicial  wisdom  which  through  all  the  ages  has 
made  the  magistrate  a  chief  among  ten  thousand,  and 
the  position  a  synonym  for  the  highest  learning  and  the 
noblest  character.  When,  therefore,  an  antagonistic 
political  organization  name  a  tried  and  valued  public 
servant  for  a  judicial  office  in  which  he  has  given  satis- 
faction to  the  public,  I  approve  their  choice  and  indorse 
their  nomination.  Even  though  that  party  be  bad  to  the 
heart,  yet  if  the  man  is  just  and  upright  and  capable,  I 
hail  the  action  as  I  welcome  the  lily  that  emerges  from 
the  darkest  and  most  hideous  moi'ass.  Therefore,  when 
in  this  fast  and  populous  district  the  great  Democratic 
organization  nominates  for  County  Judge  and  presiding 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


445 


magistrate  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  a  gentleman  who 
has  for  years  been  an  ornament  to  that  bench  and  an 
honor  to  the  City  of  Brooklyn ;  who  in  private  life  en- 
joys a  deserved  reputation  for  purity,  probity  and  intel- 
lect ;  who  is  known  everywhere  as  a  scholar,  a  jurist,  a 
cosmopolite,  and  above  all  a  gentleman  ;  who  has  made 
himself  the  terror  of  the  wrong-doer,  the  friend  of  the 
unfortunate,  the  confidant  of  the  troubled  and  sick  at 
heart,  and  the  respected  arbiter  of  the  contending,  I 
glory  in  their  action  and  take  pleasure  in  being  able  to 
approve  their  choice.  This,  gentlemen,  was  done  by  the 
Democratic  County  Convention  in  nominating  the 
Honorable  Henry  A.  Moore  for  County  Judge,  whom  I 
now  formally  nominate  to  be  the  candidate  of  this  body 
of  representative  Republicans. " 

Personally,  Judge  Moore  is  a  very  fine-looking  man. 
He  is  about  five  feet  ten  inches  in  height  and  200  pounds 
in  weight.  His  face  is  large,  commanding  and  intellect- 
ual in  expression.  His  hair  and  beard  are  an  iron  gray, 
and  his  brown  eyes  beam  kindly  upon  sinners  as  well  as 
friends.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  at  562  Washington 
Avenue,  where  he  lives  with  his  wife  and  family.  His 
children — three  boys — are  Charles  F.  Moore,  who  occu- 
pies a  position  in  the  Park  Department  of  Brooklyn  ; 
Jolm  F.  Moore,  who  is  Deputy-clerk  of  the  Court,  and 
Joseph  H.  Moore,  a  merchant  of  New  York.  Judge 
Moore  has  a  host  of  friends  and  admirers,  won  and  kept 
by  his  genial  manners  and  unfailing  courtesy.  His 
administration  of  his  office  is  quick  and  thorough.  The 
trial  days  attract  crowds  of  spectators  and  disengaged 
lawyers,  who  come  to  learn  his  example. 

The  day  he  sets  for  pronouncing  sentence  is  one  of 


4-1:0  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

great  interest.  Testimony  that  cannot  be  legally  pro- 
duced on  the  trial  is  heard  in  mitigation  of  the  penalty. 
The  patience,  kind-heartedness  and  courtesy  of  the 
Court  now  come  into  full  play  for  the  first  time.  The 
position  of  the  Judge  is  one  of  great  delicacy.  While  he 
gives  the  criminal  the  benefit  of  a  doubt  in  every  case, 
he  must  take  care  that  clemency  does  not  interfere  with 
justice.  He  deals  with  the  most  desperate  men  and 
women.  Before  his  eyes  roguery  is  daily  committed. 
Liars  combine  to  clear  the  guilty.  Every  artifice  is  re- 
sorted to  to  excite  sympathy.  Sick  women,  w^ho  have 
no  connection  with  the  case,  are  brought  into  court  to 
work  on  the  feelings  of  the  Judge.  Pretended  mothers 
and  sisters  cry  and  sniffle  at  the  bar.  Babies  are  hired 
for  a  day  in  court.  All  this  is  known  to  the  magistrate. 
Atrocious  criminals  plead  guilty  to  a  minor  offense,  or 
throw  themselves  on  the  mercy  of  the  Court ;  such  get 
the  full  penalty  of  the  law  notwithstanding.  A  prisoner 
to  whom  clemency  can  be  shown  is  sure  of  a  merciful 
sentence  if  he  pleads  guilty. 

When  a  heavy  penalty  is  pronounced,  it  is  uttered  in 
a  mingled  tone  of  sincere  regret  and  judicial  sternness, 
prefixed  by  the  remark  :  ' '  My  duty  compels  me  to  sen- 
tence you  to  the  full  term  allowed  by  the  law."  The 
great  mass  of  prisoners  in  this  Court  are  young,  from 
sixteen  to  thirty.  Whether  sentenced  or  discharged, 
they  get  good  advice  or  healthful  warning. 

Frequently  citizens  of  respectability  and  high  standing 
are  brought  up  for  assault  and  battery,  or  for  breaches 
of  the  peace.  In  such  cases  respectability  and  standing- 
avail  nothing.  '^You  are  old  enough  to  know  better 
than  to  commit  the  offense  with  which  you  are  charged." 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIAXS.  447 

Some  claim  a  lenient  sentence  on  the  ground  that  they 
agree  politically  with  his  honor.  Prisoner,  if  you  are 
a  Democrat  you  ought  to  know  hetter  than  to  do  as  you 
have  done.  I  shall  sentence  you  to  the  full  term  al- 
lowed by  law.''  In  sentencing,  as  well  as  in  trials,  he  is 
prompt,  clear  and  brief.  His  charges  embrace  only  the 
points  in  the  case  that  the  jury  have  to  consider.  No 
impertinent  counsel  rides  over  him.  When  a  noisy  limb 
of  the  law  stupidly  objects  to  a  question,  he  says,  ^'I  shall 
admit  the  question.  You  can  take  your  exception. "  The 
tone  and  manner  indicate  that  nothing  more  need  be  said. 

The  Court  is  co-ordinate  in  its  jurisdiction  in  criminal 
cases  with  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  over  which 
presides  any  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State.  It 
has  jurisdiction  of  all  crimes  committed  in  the  county 
as  well  as  the  city.  The  police  magistrates  have  the 
power  to  try  and  sentence  all  criminals  guilty  of  misde- 
meanors. The  Court  of  Sessions,  or  Sessions,"  as  it  is 
commonly  called,  tries  only  cases  where  indictments  have 
been  found  by  the  grand  jury. 

The  grand  jury  is  a  body  composed  of  twenty-three 
members.  They  are  required  by  law  to  appear  in  open 
court  and  present  their  indictments  through  their  fore- 
man. All  criminals  have  a  right  to  a  trial  by  jury.  If, 
when  arraigned  before  police  magistrates,  criminals  de- 
mand a  jury  trial,  they  must  be  sent  to  the  Court  of 
Sessions.  No  one  can  spend  a  day  in  the  court -room 
without  interest  and  profit.  By  no  other  officer  who 
represents  the  city  and  county  is  the  law  better  upheld, 
justice  more  honorably  or  humanely  administered  and 
crime  more  surely  punished,  than  by  the  Hon.  Henry  A. 
Moore,  in  the  Kings  County  Court  of  Sessions. 


CHAPTER  XXVL 


POLICE  AND  EXCISE  TRIALS. 


TiiR  Commissioner's  Authority.— The  Wise  Robbery. — "Bouncing 
A  Fighting  Drunk."— Malicious  Complaints.— A  Mounted 
Squadman  with  a  Poor  Memory.— Drunk  in  a  Cellar  — Con- 
duct Unbecoming  an  Officer. — How  Tradesmen  Use  the  Com- 
missioner AS  A  Collection  Agency.— A  Usurer  Beaten  at 
His  Own  Game. — Excise  Trials. — Conduct  of  Trial. — Liquor 
Dealers  and  Lawyers.— History  of  Excise  Legislation.— The 
Oldest  Excise  Law  in  America.— Hotels  Must  Serve  Drinks — 
Schenck  Beer  and  Lager  Beer.— The  Different  Offences  op 
Saloon-keepers. — Perjurers'  Paradise. — A  Typical  Case  of 
Lying.— Conviction.— Revocation— Appeal  and  Review.— The 
Law's  Delay. 

HE  Commissioner  of  Police  is  given  a  quasi- judicial 
authority  in  order  jbo  preserve  the  discipline  of  the 
force.  This  authority  comprises  bringing  a  member  of 
the  police  before  him,  examination  under  oath  and  pun- 
ishment by  reprimand,  degradation,  fine,  suspension  and 
dismissal.  Unfortunately  he  has  no  power  to  punish  for 
contempt,  and  no  authority  to  enforce  obedience  to  his 
subpoena.  This  enables  shrewd  lawyers  to  spirit  away 
dangerous  witnesses  with  almost  absolute  impunity, 
which  sometimes  results  in  a  serious  miscarriage  of  justice. 
Complaints  against  officers  are  made  by  fellow-members 
of  the  force  and  rarely  by  private  citizens.  The  major- 
ity are  for  shght  infractions  of  the  rules  of  the  depart- 
ment, a  goodly  number  for  entering  saloons  or  drinking, 
while  on  duty,  many  for  conduct  unbecoming  an  officer 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS.  449 

and  very  few  for  serious  offences.  Violations  of  the 
rules  ai'e  of  common  occurrence  ;  in  fact  they  are  un- 
knowingly committed  by  the  best  men  of  the  force. 
Thus  in  the  case  of  the  Wise  robbery,  a  burglary  that 
was  perpetrated  after  midnight  by  expert  thieves  of  the 
best  class,  the  fact  was  not  discovered  by  the  police 
until  the  following  morning.  This  being  technically  an 
infraction  of  the  rules,  the  captain  preferred  charges 
against  the  sergeant  and  two  officers,  who  were  tried, 
found  guilty  and  dismissed  I  After  a  few  days  had 
passed,  however,  they  were  re-instated  and  treated  with 
the  same  respect  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

It  seems  unjust,  at  first  sight,  to  make  the  non-discov- 
ery of  a  crime  an  offence  on  the  part  of  an  officer  on 
duty,  but  it  has  been  found  by  long  experience  to  be  the 
only  method  of  securing  and  preserving  a  high  discipline 
and  esprit  de  corps.  Along  with  this  rule  should  be 
placed  those  which  require  explanation  from  a  patrolman 
for  absence  from  his  post,  for  not  wearing  gloves  on 
certain  occasions,  for  carelessness  in  dress,  for  being  a 
minute  late,  and  all  similar  regulations.  Violations  of 
these  minor  rules  are  punished  by  reprimand  and  for- 
feiture of  pay,  seldom  exceeding  five  days'  salary.  In 
these  cases  it  is  often  difficult  to  tell  truth  from  false- 
hood. A  policeman  is  called  by  a  friendly  proprietor 
to  eject  a fighting  drunk"  from  a  saloon.  He  enters 
the  place  and  awes  the  would-be  pugilist  into  abject  con- 
trition. The  other  guests  intercede  and  he  departs.  Or 
he  may  enter  the  place,  take  a  drink  and  depart.  In 
both  cases  he  is  seen  by  his  roundsman,  who  lodges  a 
complaint  against  him.  The  testimony  against  him  is 
the  same  in  both  cases.     Generally  the  second  case 


450 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


is.  what  occurred,  and  generally  the  fxrst  case  is 
alleged  in  his  defense.  The  commissioner  in  such  cases 
depends  largely  upon  the  appearance,  habits  and  record 
of  the  accused.  If  these  be  good,  the  complaint  is  dis- 
missed ;  if  bad,  he  is  reprimanded  or  fined.  The  rules  are 
at  times  taken  advantage  of  by  people  to  gratify  their 
malice  against  officers  they  dislike.  One  officer  was 
brought  before  the  board  five  times  in  three  months  by 
a  liquor  dealer  w^hose  license  he  had  caused  to  be  re- 
voked. Against  a  patrolman  whom  he  hated,  an  un- 
scrupulous roundsman  brought  ten  charges  of  this  class. 
In  the  last  case  he  tried  to  strengthen  his  complaint  by 
false  swearing,  but  was  detected  and  expelled  from  the 
force. 

Drinking  is  another  fruitful  cause  of  trouble  for  police- 
men. The  prevalent  vice  of  the  American  people,  drink 
and  drunkenness,  has,  it  must  be  confessed,  passed  into 
the  ranks  of  the  police  and  there  worked  the  same  dam- 
age it  has  done  everywhere.  While  an  officer  who 
drinks  in  moderation  can  do  his  duty  properly,  the  slight- 
est excess  renders  him  unfit  to  be  a  policeman.  For 
this  reason  the  rules  are  stringent  against  drinking  and 
intoxication.  They  are  obeyed  by  nearly  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  police.  But  there  are  black  sheep  in  every 
flock,  and  the  policeman  who  yields  to  temptation  is  reg- 
ularly brought  before  the  board.  He  tries  his  hardest 
to  escape  punishment  and  often  succeeds.  In  these  trials 
there  is  often  considerable  fun  and  remarkable  prevari- 
cation. One  or  two  instances  may  show  the  manner  in 
which  such  cases  appear. 

Officer  X,  of  an  up-town  station,  was  so  much  under 
the  influence  of  liquor  at  half-past  six  in  the  evemnfif  as 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  451 

to  be  unfit  for  duty.  It  was  at  the  end  of  his  tour  of 
(Uity,  and  glancing  with  a  very  weary  expression  in  his 
eyes  at  Commissioner  Carroll,  he  sighed  '^not  guilty." 

He  was  one  of  the  mounted  squad,  and  a  fellow-ofhcer 
said  he  saw  him  sitting  very  unevenly  in  his  saddle  with 
the  reins  in  his  left  hand  while  his  right  grasped  the 
steed's  mane.  Now  and  then  he  would  sway  from  right 
to  left,  until  the  knowing  animal  stopped  at  the  stable 
and  kindly  allowed  him  to  dismount.  This  operation 
proved  a  little  too  much  for  the  officer,  who  failed  to  get 
his  foot  out  of  the  stirrup  in  time,  which  caused  him  to 
sit  quietly  down  in  the  gutter  and  await  developments. 
Captain  Y,  noticing  from  the  station-house  window 
that  something  was  wrong,  hurried  to  the  fallen  officer 
and  accused  him  of  being  intoxicated.  After  Officer  X 
had  gotten  his  foot  out  of  its  fastenings,  he  steadied  him- 
self and  led  the  horse  into  the  stable.  The  captain  was 
surprised  and  demanded  an  explanation.  They  went 
together  into  the  station-house.  Officer  X  refused  to 
allow  the  captain  to  smell  his  breath,  and  shut  close  his 
mouth,  but  owing  to  a  severe  cold  in  the  head  was  com- 
pelled to  release  some  of  the  fumes  which,  ascending  the 
captain's  nasal  organ,  increased  the  evidence  against  the 
officer. 

This  was  not  all.  He  attempted  to  walk  a  crack  in  the 
floor  but  made  a  miserable  failure  of  it,  and  finally  wound 
up  by  telling  the  captain  he  hadn't  been  on  any  horse  at 
all  and  proving  himself  incapable  to  distinguish  a  six- 
spot  domino  from  a  blank. 

Before  the  Commissioner  he  averred  that  it  was  all  a 
mistake  and  that  the  captain  knew  nothing  about  it. 
I  was  stiff  from  my  long  ride,"  he  continued  ;  £^nd 


452 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


with  the  exception  of  staggering  a  httle,  did  as  I 
always  do." 

How  about  the  breath  ?" 
^^Why,  I  had  just  eaten  an  apple  and  suppose  that 
tainted  it  a  little." 

Do  you  remember  falling  off  the  horse  ?" 

No,  sir  !  never  fell  off  a  horse  in  my  life." 
''KoUedoff?" 

No,  sir  (indignantly).  I  have  not  drank  anything  in 
several  months." 

I  understand  the  horse  was  very  much  excited  just 
after  your  return.    How  about  that  ?" 

^  ^  No  more  than  usual.  The  animal  is  very  high-strung 
and  hard  to  manage." 

It  was  a  good  defense,  but  as  the  horse  had  a  spavined 
leg,  was  never^  known  to  object  to  anything  and  the 
captain's  smelling  powers  were  very  good.  Officer  X 
received  a  severe  punishment  and  it  is  said  never  ate  any 
more  fruit  while  he  was  on  the  force. 

Officer  D,  of  a  station  down  in  South  Brooklyn,  was 
found  on  Sunday  in  the  doorway  of  a  liquor  saloon  in 
the  act  of  giving  a  whisky  glass  to  the  bartender.  With 
an  honest  expression  beaming  from  his  big  blue  eyes,  he 
told  the  Commissioner  that  his  presence  in  that  doorway 
was  to  see  that  the  Excise  Law  was  properly  enforced.  I 
had  learned  that  two  men  were  in  there  drinking  and 
only  done  my  duty." 

Yes,  I  know  all  about  that,"  retorted  the  questioner, 
^^but  what  were  you  doing  with  the  whisky  gla^s  ?" " 

Why,  I  saw  a  man  at  the  bar  drinking  ;  I  asked  the 
bartender  what  was  in  the  glass.  He  said  it  was  water, 
and  that  the  man  was  very  thirsty  because  he'd  eaten 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  4:):> 

some  salt  fish  for  dinner.  I  didn't  believe  it,  but  when 
the  bartender  brought  the  glass  for  lue  to  smell,  I  had  to 
believe  it."    The  man  was  let  off  with  a  reprimand. 

On  a  cold,  rainy  morning  in  March,  the  wind  howled 
around  the  corners  and  into  every  nook  known  to  the 
patrolman  where  seclusion  could  be  sought  without 
leaving  his  post.  The  rain  was  fine  and  cold  as  ice,  and 
froze  as  it  fell  on  the  sidew^alk.  Officer  Z  had  been 
faithfully  performing  his  duty  since  midnight,  and  as 
the  time  drew  on  toward  six  o'clock  he  became 
thoroughly  chilled.  Not  a  soul  was  out  except  those 
who  had  to  be,  and  they  hurried  along  at  a  rapid  pace. 
''There's  Sharkey  just  opening,"  said  the  policeman  to 
himself  as  he  spied  a  frisky  little  bartender  pulling  up 

the  shades  and  unlocking  the  door.    ''Ain't  it  cold  

— I  !  !"  he  continued,  as  he  crow^led  closer  into  the  corner 
of  a  coal-box  in  front  of  the  grocery  store  opposite 
Sharkey's  place.  "Blessed  if  I'll  stand  it  any  longer. " 
He  made  a  bolt  for  the  saloon  and  hurriedly  drained  a  bar 
glass  filled  with  whisky.  Three  minutes  later  Officer  D 
entered  and  explained  that  there  wasn't  a  solitary  place 
open  on  his  beat.  More  whisky  found  its  way  inside  the 
two  rubber  coats,  and  then  the  noble  guardians  of  the 
peace  sought  refuge  behind  an  inviting  stove. 

Five  minutes  more  rolled  by.  The  door  opened 
again  and  Roundsman  X  walked  in.  "Gimme  a 
Jamaica  rum  hot,  with  some  ginger  in't,"  he  said  to  the 
bartender. 

"Coldr 

"Yes." 

"Terrible  night." 
"Yes." 


454 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Grimme  s'more  ginger — thanks     then  the  mm  and 
ginger  vanished.    '  ^  Seen  any  of  the  boys  ?" 
^'Naw." 

''Tough  night?" 
"Yes." 

Bang  went  the  door  and  the  two  men  behind  the  stove 
offered  up  a  silent  prayer  of  thanks  and  waited  their 
chance  to  get  out  unseen.  They  absorbed  more  whisky, 
however,  and  then  started  for  the  door.  It  opened  before 
they  reached  it,  and  in  stepped  the  same  roundsman.  He 
had  only  gone  a  block  before  growing  very  cold  and  so 
had  returned. 

He  pi'eferred  a  charge  against  the  two  men,  who  were 
fined  thirty  days'  pay  each,  while  the  roundsman  came 
out  Scot  free. 

A  similar  case  was  that  of  a  well-known  patrolman 
connected  with  a  precinct  in  one  of  the  upper  wards. 

Officer  A,  who  figured  most  prominently  in  the  case, 
is  still  on  the  force.  Vi)  to  the  time  in  question  his 
record  had  been  perfectly  clear  from  the  slightest  taint. 
No  one  could  say  he  had  committed  the  slightest  offence 
until  one  afternoon  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  when  the 
roundsman  found  him  missing  from  his  post.  No  trace 
of  the  officer  could  be  found.  The  roundsman  bore  no 
love  for  the  man,  and  made  up  his  mind  to  find  out 
what  had  become  of  the  j)atrolman. 

He  glanced  into  every  saloon  and  haunt  of  the  officers, 
but  no  trace  could  be  found.  He  did  not  Avant  to  return 
to  the  station-house  and  report  him  missing  befoi^  he 
found  out  what  had  become  of  him.  Over  an  hour 
slipped  away  and  the  roundsman  was  puzzled.  He  was 
standing  in  front  of  a  handsome  brown-stone  mansion 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  455 

pondering  what  next  to  do,  when  a  colored  servant 
(male)  emerged  and  asked  him  to  sample  some  liquor 
just  arrived  from  abroad.  The  darkey  remarked  thar's 
anudder  of'cer  inside  an'  he's  got  pretty  full." 

The  roundsman  Avanted  no  more  coaxing.  He  hurried 
in  under  the  stoop  and  down  the  cellar  stairs.  There 
sat  Officer  A  on  a  keg  of  nails,  fast  asleep,  with  his  head 
gently  resting  against  the  gas  meter.  His  coat  was 
open  and  his  hat  hanging  on  the  corner  of  the  coal-bin. 
Thinking  the  officer  good  for  another  hour's  sleep,  the 
roundsman  hurried  to  the  station-house,  and  called  the 
xaptain  and  a  sergeant  to  view  the  scene.  To  the  sur- 
prise of  all,  Officer  A  met  them  within  a  block  of  the 
house  and  saluted  pleasantly.  The  roundsman  was 
somewhat  put  out,  but  reported  the  case.  The  officer 
swore  the  whole  charge  w^as  a  falsehood  and  brought  the 
servant  to  back  up  his  statement.  The  Commissioner 
pondered  a  long  while  before  he  fully  made  up  his  mind. 
He  then  remarked  :  You've  always  had  a  good  record, 
but  as  I  remember  that  nigger  as  an  old-time  chicken 
thief,  his  corroboration  of  your  denial  don't  go  very  far 
and  I  fine  you  one  month's  pay." 

Under  the  head  of  conduct  unbecoming  an  officer"  the 
Commissioner  has  a  wide  range  of  latitude.  Discourtesy 
to  private  citizens,  insults  or  insulting  language,  chal- 
lenges to  fight,  threats  to  inflict  physical  or  other  injury, 
neglect  of  wife  or  children,  profanity  and  disorderly  con- 
duct, are  a  few  of  the  long  list  of  unseemly  acts  which 
are  thus  covered. 

This  rule  has  been  construed  to  include  the  deliberate 
non-payment  of  just  debts  by  extravagant  officers.  It  is 
therefore  popular  with  tradesmen  and  impecunious  doc- 


456 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


tors  and  dentists.  The  procedure  is  somewhat  peculiar. 
If  the  officer  admits  the  debt,  he  is  ordered  to  pay  it  off 
by  instalments  at  so  many  dollars  a  month.  If  he 
denies  the  debt  or  disputes  the  account  between  himself 
and  the  creditor,  the  Commissioner  dismisses  the  case 
and  relegates  the  latter  to  the  civil  courts.  If  he  estab- 
lish his  claim  there  and  obtain  judgment,  he  can  then 
invoke  the  rule  successfully.  In  this  case  the  Commis- 
sioner generally  makes  a  stricter  order  and  requires  the 
instalments  to  be  much  larger  than  they  would  other- 
wise have  been,  and  also  requires  the  debtor  to  pay  the 
costs  and  disbursements,  as  well  as  the  original  bill.  The 
court  in  these  matters  does  not  stand  upon  law,  but  al- 
lows equity  to  exercise  full  sway.  Where  a  money- 
lender has  discounted  an  officer's  salary  at  20  per  cent, 
per  month,  and  in  order  to  avoid  the  fact  of  usury,  had 
compelled  the  unfortunate  borrower  to  buy  a  second- 
hand coat  at  a  cost  equal  to  the  discount,  and  then 
brought  suit  before  the  Commissioner  for  the  alleged 
value  of  two  coats,  that  official  gravely  decided  that  the 
garments  did  not  fit  and  ordered  the  debt  cancelled  so  far 
as  the  police  department  was  concerned  by  the  return  of 
the  coats.  These,  it  must  be  added,  were  handed  over 
immediately  to  the  usurer.  In  both  police  and  excise 
trials  every  witness  is  sworn,  except  where  parties  or 
their  counsel  agree  upon  facts,  and  all  testimony  is  taken 
down  in  full  by  a  stenographer.  In  both  kinds  of  trials 
the  Court  of  Appeals  has  held  that  an  accused  person  is 
entitled  to  be  represented  by  counsel  and  to  enough  time 
to  retain  one  in.  All  decisions  by  the  Police  Commis- 
sioner are  reviewable  by  a  writ  of  certiorari  to  the 
higher  courts.    These  appeals  succeed  but  once  in  five, 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  457 

a  smaller  ratio  of  revisals  than  obtains  in  the  great 
courts  of  the  State — a  high  compliment  to  the  Com- 
missioners who  have  acted  in  a  judicial  capacity.  In 
many  cases  where  a  policeman  has  committed  so  serious 
an  offence  as  to  merit  dismissal,  he  is  allowed  to  resign 
instead  of  being  tried  and  convicted.  The  resignation 
thus  wi])es  out  the  complaint  and  leaves  the  offender  a 
comparatively  clean  record. 

EXCISE  TRIALS. 

Complaints  against  licensed  liquor  dealers  to  the  Board 
of  Excise  may  be  made  by  either  the  police  or  by  private 
citizens.  As  a  matter  of  fact  they  are  nearly  always 
made  by  the  former.  Among  their  general  duties  is  a 
surveillance  of  all  saloons  to  prevent  or  punish  the  viola- 
tion of  the  laws  by  which  they  are  governed.  Beyond 
this  they  constantly  receive  special  instructions  to  visit 
liquor  stores  on  Sunday  in  citizen's  clothes  to  secure  evi- 
dence against  delinquents.  The  law,  with  all  the  difficul- 
ties attending  its  execution  and  the  popular  feeling  in 
favor  of  more  liberal  statutes,  is  well  enforced.  Of  the 
licensed  places  in  Brooklyn,  fully  one -third  are  closed  on 
the  Sabbath  ;  one -third  admit  callers  through  open  side 
or  back  doors,  and  one-third  do  business  with  regular 
customers,  who  are  recognized  by  some  one  on  watch 
before  they  are  allowed  to  enter  the  place,  which  is  barred 
and  bolted.  When  a  violation  is  discovered,  the  officer 
arrests  the  bartender,  w^aiter  or  proprietor  wiio  serves 
him  with  a  prohibited  drink,  and  enters  a  complaint  be- 
fore the  Board ;  in  some  cases  the  complaint  is  lodged 
without  a  preliminary  arrest.  A  notice  is  then  served 
by  the  police  upon  the  license-holder  to  appear  before  the 


458 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


Board  on  the  next  convenient  trial-day  and  defend  him- 
self against  the  specified  charge. 

In  the  trial  of  cases  before  the  Commissioners  of  Excise, 
the  prosecution  is  conducted  by  the  Board  in  about  the 
same  manner  as  complaints  are  heard  by  police  magis- 
trates. In  exceptional  cases  the  counsel  for  the  Board 
of  Excise  is  called  upon  to  prosecute.  The  accused  is 
nearly  always  represented  by  an  official  of  the  Brooklyn 
Liquor-dealers'  Protective  Association  or  by  a  lawyer 
retained  by  the  Brewers'  Union.  The  litigation  is  usually 
very  quiet  and  monotonous,  but  in  some  cases  becomes 
fierce  and  vindictive. 

The  proprietor  of  a  famous  hostelry  in  Fulton  Street, 
near  Flatbush  Avenue,  was  at  swords'  points  with  the 
police  for  four  years.  In  that  period  he  or  his  employees 
were  arrested  thirty -eight  times,  were  prosecuted  by  the 
Excise  authorities  thirty-four  times  and  prosecuted  them 
in  turn  in  the  higher  courts  twelve  times,  making  a  total 
of  eighty-four  cases.  The  Excise  and  police  finally  won 
and  their  opponent,  an  impoverished  man,  was  forced  to 
give  up  his  establishment  and  begin  the  struggle  of  life 
anew. 

In  the  conduct  of  these  cases  neither  time  nor  trouble 
was  spared  by  the  police  or  the  accused.  The  entire  his- 
tory of  the  Excise  legislation  of  the  English-speaking 
race  was  ransacked,  and  valuable  compendiums  made 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Commissioners  and  the  police  force. 
So  thoroughly  was  this  work  done  that  after  the  many 
briefs  and  articles  were  filed  with  the  Board,  lawyers 
from  all  over  the  country  came  or  sent  to  Brooklyn  to 
obtain  copies  of  the  researches  for  use  in  litigation.  In 
these  researches  many  interesting  discoveries  were  made. 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


459 


Thus,  for  example,  it  was  learned  that  the  first  Excise 
law,  as  such  statutes  are  known,  upon  the  American 
Continent  was  drawn  in  ^'  Breukkelen  "  and  published  in 
"Hemsted,  Longe  Island,  March  1,  1G64.". 

A  copy  is  preserved  in  the  Brooklyn  police  archives, 
wliile  the  original — barely  legible — exists  in  the  clerk's 
office  at  Hempstead,  L.  I.  A  copy  of  this  quaint  old  law 
may  be  of  interest  to  the  reader  : 

INN  KEEPERS  &  ORDINARYES. 

No  Person  or  Persons  shall  at  any  time  under  any  pretense  or 
colour  whatsoever  undertake  to  be  a  Common  Victuler  keeper  of 
A  Cookes  shopp,  or  House  of  Common  entertainment,  or  pub- 
Hque  Seller  of  wine  Beare,  Ale  or  strong  waters  by  retail  or  a 
less  quantity  than  a  quarter  Caske,  without  a  Certificate  of  his 
good  behaviour  from  the  Constable  and  two  Overseers  at  least 
of  the  parish  wherein  he  dwelt  and  a  Lycence  first  obtained 
under  the  hand  of  two  Justices  of  the  peace  in  the  Sessions  upon 
pain  of  forfeiting  five  pounds  for  every  such  offence  or  Imprison- 
ment at  the  discretion  of  the  Court. 

Every  Person  so  licensed  for  Common  entertainment  shall 
have  some  Ordinary  signe  obvious  for  direction  of  strangers, 
within  three  Months  after  the  Licence  granted  under  penalty  of 
twenty  Shillings. 

Every  Person  Licenced  to  keep  an  Ordinary  shall  always  be 
provided  of  strong  and  wholesome  Beer,  of  four  bushels  of  malt, 
at  the  least  to  a  Hoggshead  which  he  shall  not  Sell  at  above  two 
pence  the  quart  under  the  penalty  of  twenty  Shillings  for  the 
first  Offence,  forty  shillings  for  the  Second,  and  loss  of  his 
Licence.  It  is  permitted  to  any  to  Sell  Beer  out  of  Doors  at  a 
penny  the  Ale  quart  or  under. 

No  Licenced  Person  shall  suffer  any  to  Drink  excessively  or  at 
unseasonable  hours  after  Nine  of  the  Clock  at  night  in  or  about 
any  their  houses  upon  penalty  of  two  shillings  sixpence  for 
every  Offence  if  Complaint  and  proofs  be  made  thereof. 

If  any  quarrel  or  disorder  doth  arise  from  intemperate  per- 
sons within  their  house,  the  Person  so  licensed  for  not  immedi- 
ately Signifying  the  same  to  the  Constable,  or  one  Overseer  at 
the  Least,  who  are  authorized  to  cause  the  peace  to  be  kept, 
shall  for  every  such  neglect  forfeit  Tenne  Shillings  and  every 
person  found  Drunk  in  or  about  any  of  their  houses  shall  forfeit 


460 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


two  shillings  Six  pence.  AnA  for  being  the  author  or  accessory 
of  the  breach  of  the  Peace  and  disorders,  or  for  Tipling  at  un- 
reasonable hours  shall  forfeit  tan  Shillings  and  for  want  of  pay- 
ment or  in  case  they  be  Servants  and  neglect  their  Masters  occa- 
tions  They  shall  be  sent  to  the  Stocks  an  hour  at  least.  It  shall 
be  lawful  notwithstanding  for  all  Licenced  Persons  to  Entertain 
Land  Travellers  or  Seafareing  men  in  the  night  season  when 
they  come  on  shore  or  from  their  Journey  for  theire  necessary 
refreshment  or  towards  theire  preparation  for  theire  Voyage  or 
Journey.  And  also  all  Strangers,  Lodgers,  or  other  Persons 
may  freely  Continue  in  such  Houses,  when  theire  Lawful  Occa- 
tions  and  business  doth  require,  Provided  there  be  no  disorder 
amongst  them. 

Every  person  so  Licenced  for  the  Entertainment  of  Strangers 
with  their  Horses,  shall  provide  one  or  more  Enclosure  for  Sum- 
mer Hay  and  Provender  for  Winter  with  convenient  stable 
roome  And  attendance  ;  upon  Penalty  of  two  Shillings  Sixpence 
for  every  days  default,  and  double  Damage  to  the  party  wronged. 

No  Licenced  Person  shall  unreasonably  exact  upon  his  Guest 
for  any  sort  of  entertainment,  and  no  man  shall  be  compelled  to 
pay  above  eight  pence  a  Meale,  with  small  Beer  only  unless  the 
Guest  shall  make  other  agreement  with  the  person  so  lycenced. 

No  Licence  shall  be  granted  by  any  two  Justices  in  Sessions 
for  above  the  terme  of  one  year,  but  every  person  so  Licenced 
before  the  expiration  of  the  said  Terme  shall  and  are  hereby  en- 
joyned  to  repair  to  the  sessions  of  that  Jurisdiction  for  renew- 
ing their  Several  Licences  for  which  they  shall  pay  to  the  Clark 
of  the  Sessions  two  Shillings  Sixpence,  or  shall  forfeit  five  pounds 
as  unlicenced  persons. 

All  Offences  committed  against  this  law  shall  be  determined 
by  the  Constable,  with  two  or  more  of  the  Overseers  who  are 
impowered  to  Collect  and  receive  the  Several  fines  or  distrayne 
in  case  of  non-payment  rendering  accompt  thereof  as  is  else- 
Avhere  required.  That  Inn  Keepers  or  Ordinary  Keepers,  shall 
not  bee  obliged  to  put  any  perticuler  quantity  of  Mault  into  their 
Beere,  but  they  shall  not  sell  theire  Beere  above  two  pence  the 
quart,  nor  any  Liquors  above  twelve  Shillings  the  Gallon,  under 
the  penalty  of  twenty  Shillings  for  each  Gallon  so  Sold.  Pro- 
vided alwaj^s,  and  it  is  to  be  understoode,  that  noe  man  is  hero- 
by  hindered  from  buying  for  his  own  private  use,  any  quantity 
of  Liquors.  And  it  shall  and  may  bee  Lawful  for  any  Person, 
to  sell  such  quantity  to  him,  so  that  hee  doe  not  sell  it  againe  by 
retaile  without  a  Licence. 


Brooklyn's  ouardtaxs.  461 
BREWERS. 

That  no  person  whatsoever  shall  henceforth  undertake  the 
Calling  or  work  of  Brewing  Beere  for  Sale,  but  only  sucli  as  are 
known  to  have  Sufficient  Skill  and  knowledge  in  the  art  or  Mis- 
tery  of  a  Brewer.  That  if  any  undertake  for  victualling  of 
Ships  or  other  Vessels,  or  Master  or  owner  of  any  such  Vessels, 
or  any  other  person  shall  make  it  appear  that  any  Beer  bought 
of  any  person  within  this  Government  do  prove  unfit,  un- 
v,^holesome,  and  useless  for  their  supply,  either  through  the  in- 
sufficiency of  the  mault  or  Brewing  or  unwholesome  Cask,  the 
Person  wronged  thereby  shall  be  and  is  hereby  enabled  to  re- 
cover equal  and  Sufficient  damage  by  Action  against  that  Per- 
son that  put  the  Beer  to  Sale. 

Another  interesting  discovery  was  that  while  it  is 
illegal  for  an  inn  or  hotel  keeper  to  sell  or  give  away 
alcoholic  drinks  to  the  pnhlic  on  Sunday,  it  is  his  legal 
duty  to  provide  a  guest  with  food  and  drink  at  all  hours 
of  the  day  or  night,  Sunday  notwithstanding.  It  seems 
paradoxical  that  a  hotel-keeper  should  he  fined  and 
imprisoned  for  selling  a  drink  to  one  man,  and  fined  and 
imprisoned  for  refnsimj  to  sell  a  drink  to  the  next.  A 
third  discovery,  prohably  of  more  interest  to  brewers  than 
any  one  else,  is  that  it  is  legal  to  sell  '  ^  small  beer  " — that 
is,  beer  containing  two  per  cent,  of  alcohol  or  less — at  all 
times  ;  and  illegal  on  various  occasions  to  sell  ' '  strong 
beer,"  which  includes  lager  beer,  and  ordinary  ales  and 
porters.  This  discovery  enabled  and  still  enables  the 
brewer,  retailer  and  public  to  dispose  on  Sunday  of 
unlimited  quantities  of  "Schenck"  beer,  "Sommer" 
beer,  ^'  Excelsior"  beer  and    Weiss  "  beer. 

The  offences  for  which  liquor  dealers  are  arrested  or 
tried  before  the  Excise  Board  are  Sunday  sales,  selling 
after  hours,  selling  to  minors,  false  impersonation  and 
keeping  a  disorderly  house.  In  the  vast  majority  of  cases 
the  accused  are  guilty,  and  twice  out  of  three  times  they 


462 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


are  acquitted.  The  acquittal  is  due  in  maixy  instances 
to  legal  technicalities,  but  in  most  cases  to  monumental 
lying.  So  universal  is  this  that  the  excise  trial- room  is 
known  as  the  Perjurers'  Paradise.  Probability,  and  even 
possibility,  never  appear  to  be  taken  into  consideration 
by  some  saloon-keepers  in  defending  themselves  before 
the  Excise  Board. 
A  recent  case  well  illustrates  these  peculiarities. 

Scene  :  Trial-room  of  the  Board  of  Excise.  The  saloon- 
keeper is  formally  sworn  and  kisses  the  Bible  with  a 
resonant  smack. 

Commissioner  Carroll — Mr.  Beers,  Officer  Ketchum 
swears  that  last  Sunday  you  were  violating  the  law  ; 
that  you  had  a  man  on  guard  at  the  door  who  admitted 
him  to  the  bar-room,  where  ten  men  were  drinking  lager 
and  other  beverages  at  tables  and  eight  were  drinking 
whisky  at  the  bar  ;  that  you  were  behind  the  bar  ;  that 
he  took  a  glass  of  beer  and  paid  for  it  and  then  arrested 
you.    What  have  you  to  say  ? 

Saloon-keeper  (with  an  air  of  injured  innocence) — 
Not  guilty,  sir ! 

Commissioner — What  were  you  doing  there  ? 

Saloon-keeper  (with  conscious  pride) — You  see,  it 
was  Sunday,  sir,  the  day  we  clean  up,  and  I  and  my  bar- 
tender were  in  the  saloon  at  work.  I  was  behind  the 
bar  washing  glasses  and  my  man  was  just  going  out  the 
door,  which  was  carefully  locked,  to  get  some  soup  when 
the  officer  came  in. 

Commissioner — What  were  the  men  doing  in  there  ? 

Saloon-keeper  (with  expression  of  political  power) — 
I'm  President  of  the  Steinmuller  Mutuals,  a  benevolent 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS.  463 

organization,  and  they're  members,  and  we  were  talking 
about  our  annual  ball. 

Commissioner — Were  they  drinking  beer  ? 

Saloox-keeper-^Xo,  sir  ;  they  all  drank  ginger  ale. 

Commissioner,— Were  the  others  drinking  whisky  at 
the  bar  ? 

Saloon-keeper — Xo,  sir  ;  cider. 

Commissioner— Do  you  keep  cider  in  bottles  labeled 
Rye  and  Bourbon,  Cognac  and  Old  Tom  ? 

Saloon-keeper — Certainly,  sir  ;  in  all  sorts  of  bottles. 

Commissioner — Did  you  sell  the  officer  lager  '{ 

Saloon-keeper — Xo,  sir  ;  I  sold  him  Schenck  beer  ; 
that's  the  only  beer  I  sell  on  Sunday.  It  looks  like  lager 
and  smells  and  tastes  like  it,  and  only  an  expert  chemist 
can  tell  it  from  lager.  Here's  my  brewer's  certificate 
proving  it,  and  here's  the  analysis  and  certificate  of  Dr. 
Dontremus  proving  it  also.    That's  all  there  is  to  it. 

Commissioner — Have  you  any  witnesses  ? 

Saloon-keeper — Of  course  ;  I've  got  six.    Mr.  Seeds. 

Mr.  Seeds  (red-nosed,  ragged  and  filthy,  and  suffering 
from  delirium  tremens) — Yes,  sir.    (Is  sworn.) 

Commissioner — Were  you  present  on  this  occasion  ? 

Mr.  Seeds — Wen  de  cop  come  in  \  Cert. 

Commissioner — Were  you  drinking  \ 

Mr.  Seeds — I  was  wrastling  with  selzer  and  ginger  pop. 
Old  man  Beers  don't  sell  nothing  on  Sundays.  X'o  one 
else  drank  an}i:hing  but  temperance  stuff. 

Commissioner — Ever  arrested  ? 

Mr.  Seeds  (proudly) — Yes,  thirty  times,  by  a  conspir- 
acy of  policemen,  a  put-up  job  for  drunkenness,  and  five 
times  by  bartenders  who  tried  to  lick  me. 

Mr.  Beers  produces  Mr.  Bung,  Mr.  Winehole,  ^Iv.  Tap- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


pitt  and  Mr.  Eisman,  who  strongly  resemble  and  who 
corroborate  Mr.  Seeds. 

Commissioner— That's  enough.  Beers,  look  here.  I 
am  morally  certain  that  you  violated  the  law,  and  that 
you  and  your  witnesses  have  perjured  yourselves.  I 
haven't  enough  legal  evidence  to  convict  you.  The  next 
time,  however,  I  shall  have,  and  I'll  break  your  license. 

Mr.  Beers,  witnesses  and  friends  depart  in  high  glee 
for  the  nearest  saloon. 

The  effect  of  a  conviction  before  the  Board  is  the  revo- 
cation of  the  license  and  the  disability  to  hold  another 
for  three  years  thereafter.  The  latter  punishment  is 
avoided  by  the  proprietor  renewing  his  license  in  the 
name  of  his  bartender,  brewer,  or  of  some  friend.  When, 
however,  the  place  has  become  notorious  by  repeated 
violations  of  the  law,  or  by  being  disorderly  and  disrepu- 
table, the  Board  frequently  refuses  to  license  it  to  any 
applicant.  This  refusal  is  absolute  and,  strange  to  say, 
is  not  reviewable  by  the  higher  courts.  A  judgment  or 
conviction  may,  however,  be  appealed  to  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  in  cases  of  legal  error  be  reversed  and  dis- 
missed, or  sent  back  for  a  new  trial.  As  a  stay  of  pro- 
ceedings is  usually  granted  on  appeal,  and  as  the  license 
expires  in  a  year,  liquor-dealers  in  trouble  frequently 
take  this  course,  and  by  intentional  delay  throw  the  case 
over  until  the  license  has  expired.  This  practically 
terminates  the  case  and  enables  them  to  proceed  as  if 
nothing  had  ever  happened. 


CHAPTER  XXVIL 


THE  NEWSPAPERS  AND  POLICE   REPORTERS  OF  BROOKLYN. 


"What  they  are. — The  Eagle's  War  on  Gambling  Dens  and  Dis 
ORDERLY  Houses.— An  Expensive  Lesson  to  a  Rich  Gambler.— 
The  Standard's  Attack  Upon  Pool-sellers. — The  Argus  Vers- 
us the  Brooklyn  Ring. — The  Times  and  the  County  Institu- 
tions.— The  Police  Reporters. — Where  they  Congregate. — The 
Detectives'  Room. — "Associated  Pres.s"  Work. — Beats. — A  Tale 
OF  AN  Execution  and  a  Reporter. — A  Newspaper  Man  that  Could 
Telegraph. — Relations  of  Press  and  Police. — Arrests. — The 
Blotter. — Libel. — Morality  of  Police. 

HE  daily  press  of  Brooklyn  consists  of  the  Brooklyn 
edition  of  the  World,  a  morning  daily;  the  Eagle, 
Times,  Standard-Union,  Citizen  and  Freie  Presse,  even- 
ing journals  ;  and  the  Revieiv,  Netvs,  Inn-keepers^  Journal 
and  Greenpoint  Blade,  weeklies.  All  are  well  managed 
and  capably  written.  The  dailies  deserve  especial  men- 
tion for  the  care,  skill  and  intellectual  ability  with  which 
they  are  conducted. 

All  of  the  Brooklyn  newspapers  have  been  of  vast  use 
to  the  police,  as  well  as  to  the  public,  for  their  successful 
efforts  in  attacking  the  evils  which,  always  incidental  to 
the  growth  of  a  great  city,  have  from  time  to  time 
blemished  the  fair  record  of  the  City  of  Churches. 

The  Eagle,  ever  since  its  birth,  has  waged  war  to  the 
knife  against  gambling  dens,  low  dives  and  houses  of 
questionable  character.  So  zealous  and  so  thorough  has 
it  been  in  its  good  work  that  scarcely  any  disreputable 
place  has  ever  been  started  within  the  city  limits  but 


466 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


what  within  thirty  days  thereafter  it  has  boen  exj)osed 
in  the  news  items,  denounced  in  an  editorial  or  described 
in  a  special  notice  to  the  pohce. 

Rich  gamblers  and  wealthy  proprietors  of  houses  of 
ill-repute  have  repeatedly  opened  establishments  in 
Brooklyn,  and  have  been  willing  to  pay  any  amount — 
even  up  in  the  thousands — for  silence  and  blindness  on 
the  part  of  the  Eagle  and  the  police,  but  in  no  case  have 
ever  succeeded.  Within  a  brief  period  their  places  have 
been  raided,  or  they  have  accepted  the  delicate  hints  of 
the  Eagle  or  the  captain  of  the  precinct,  and  returned  to 
the  metropolis. 

The  lesson  thus  taught  was  so  severe  as  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  sporting  and  criminal  classes  of  the 
country.  One  place  on  Schermerhorn  Street,  broken 
up  through  the  Eagle,  was  fitted  up  specially  at  an  ex- 
pense of  over  $5,000  and  had  been  opened  in  the  most 
extravagant  style  to  attract  custom.  Before  the  proprie- 
tor had  recouped  his  expenses,  in  his  own  language  he 
was  "several  thousand  behind  the  game."  He  was  com 
pelled  to  leave  by  the  police  and  a  few  words  in  the  news 
columns.  The  closing  of  two  similar  establishments  in 
Pierrepont,  near  Fulton ;  one  in  Adams,  near  Myrtle 
Avenue  ;  one  in  Fulton,  near  Johnson,  and  one  in  the 
Halsey  Building,  can  be  likewise  charged  to  the  credit  of 
the  journal  mentioned.  Its  course  toward  disorderly 
houses  was  equally  belligerent  and  effective. 

The  Standard-Union,  which  has  just  appeared  in  the 
journahstic  field,  has  had  no  opportunity  as  yet  to  dis- 
tinguish itself  in  the  same  manner.  But  the  Standard, 
Union  and  Argus,  of  which  it  is  the  heir  and  successor  by 
repeated  amalgamations,  did  good  work  for  the  morals  and 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  467 

welfare  of  the  city.  The  Standard,  at  the  l)eginning  of 
its  career,  attacked  the  pool-rooms  of  Brooklyn,  which 
were  then  numerous,  and  busy  day  and  night.  The  at- 
tacks were  at  first  laughed  at  by  the  pool-sellers,  who  had 
money,  influence  and  popularity  behind  them.  The 
laugh  died  away  into  surprise  and  terror  when  raids, 
arrests,  conyictions,  fines  and  terms  of  imprisonment  of 
the  gamblers  rewarded  the  efforts  of  the  little  journal. 

The  Argus  made  a  special  effort  for  municipal  reform. 
It  was  assisted  uniformly  by  the  Union  and  Times  in  its 
endeayors  and  from  time  to  time  by  the  Eagle.  It 
started  an  agitation  for  simplicity  and  responsibility  in 
the  goyernment,  home-rule,  the  abolition  of  sinecureship 
and,  aboye  all,  retrenchment,  economy  and  honesty  in 
the  City  Works.  In  eyery  issue  it  presented  these  ideas 
in  some  form  or  another  to  the  public  and  so  aroused 
public  interest  as  to  bring  about  the  reform-era,  which 
started  mth  Comptroller  Frederick  A.  Schroeder  and 
has  continued  in  an  unbroken  line  to  the  present  time. 

The  Times,  while  strongly  sustaining  its  colleagues  in 
their  attempts  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  Brooklyn, 
has  made  a  specialty  of  reforms  in  the  county  institu- 
tions, the  Penitentiaries,  the  Insane  Asylum  and  the 
Poorhouse. 

Its  editor,  Hon.  Bernard  Peters,  has  long  been 
recognized  as  an  authority  in  such  matters,  and  has 
enriched  the  columns  of  his  paper  with  the  fruit  of  his 
studies  and  obseryations.  His  work  and  that  of  his 
j  carnal  greatly  accelerated  the  destruction  of  the  abuses 
which  at  one  time  preyailed,  and  at  the  same  time  in- 
creased the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  public  toward 
both  editor  and  paper. 


468 


BROOKLYN 'S  GUARDIANS. 


.Fur  their  police  news,  each  paper  has  one  9r  more  men 
stationed  at  Pohce  Headquarters  in  the  Municipal  Build- 
ing. The  reporters  doing  this  branch  of  work  must 
naturally  be  shrewd,  as  the  papers  depend  on  them  to 
get  the  inside  facts  of  every  important  case  that  comes 
to  the  department.  When  these  facts  are  secured  the 
case  must  be  followed  into  court  to  see  what  settlement 
is  made  of  the  matter. 

Perhaps  the  best -known  police  reporter  doing  business 
for  Brooklyn  papers  is  Thomas  J.  Beales,  who  is  at  pres- 
ent employed  by  the  Citizen.  Mr.  Beales  is  an  English- 
man and  has  had  over  twenty  years'  experience  in  this 
kind  of  work.  He  began  his  career  as  a  reporter  by 
writing  for  the  Newark  Advocate,  from  which  paper  he 
went  to  the  New  York  Star.  After  writing  for  the  Star 
for  over  a  year  he  came  to  Brooklyn  and  became  attached 
to  the  staff  of  the  Union.  With  the  Union  he  stayed 
three  years,  and  then  went  to  the  Eagle.  He  again  re- 
turned to  the  Union  and  then,  again  changing,  he  for  a 
second  time  become  police  reporter  for  the  Eagle,  with 
which  paper  he  remained  until  three  years  ago,  when  he 
retired  from  newspaper  work.  When  the  Citizen  started 
he  was  sought  out  and  offered  a  position,  which  he  ac- 
cepted. Mr.  Beales  has  done  some  excellent  work  in  his 
time  and  still  continues  to  be  a  valuable  aid  to  the 
Citizen.    He  is  married  and  has  children. 

Samuel  B.  Moore  does  the  same  work  for  the  Standard- 
Union  that  Mr.  Beales  performs  for  the  Citizen.  Mr. 
Moore  went  on  the  Union  when  a  boy  and  worked 
himself  up  to  his  present  position.  He  did  Greenpoint 
news  when  he  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  was 
afterwards  the  writer  of  Williamsburg  news.  From 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


this  latter  place  he  was  assigned  to  Police  Headquarters, 
where  he  has  heen  for  over  seven  years.  Mr.  Moore's 
work  has  heen  entirely  satisfactory  to  the  Union.  He 
has  distinguished  himself  on  several  occasions,  the  most 
noticeahle  being  his  report  of  the  Hettrick  murder,  which 
occurred  in  1SS5.  He  succeeded  in  getting  a  confession 
from  Thomas  Armstrong,  the  murderer,  and  before  the 
other  newspaper  men  could  get  the  news,  the  Union, 
containing  Mr.  Moore's  account  of  the  confession,  was 
being  sold  on  the  street.  Mr.  Moore  is  twenty-eight 
years  old,  is  married  and  has  two  children. 

The  Eagle  has  its  police  news  written  by  Charles  R. 
Cook,  a  bright  young  Englishman.  Mr.  Cook  did  his 
first  newspaper  work  for  a  paper  in  Jacksonville,  Florida, 
but  after  a  few  months  he  came  to  Brooklyn  and  secured 
a  position  on  the  Eagles  staff.  He  is  thirty-one  years 
of  age,  is  a  bachelor  and  has  been  with  the  Eagle  about 
five  years. 

James  A.  Wood  writes  the  police  happenings  for  the 
Brooklyn  Times.  Mr.  Wood  became  reporter  for  the 
Times  in  1874,  and  after  writing  for  four  years  he  resigned 
his  position  and.  with  his  brother,  went  to  East  on, 
Pennsylvania,  and  there  started  a  weekly  paper,  which 
did  not  meet  with  success  and  was  suspended  after  a 
short  time.  He  came  back  to  Brooklyn  and  was  re- 
employed by  the  Times,  for  which  he  is  now  writing. 
Mr.  Wood  is  a  Scotchman,  is  thirty  years  old,  married, 
and  is  the  father  of  a  large  family  of  children. 

Of  the  men  employed  as  Brooklyn  police  reporters  for 
the  great  Xew  York  papers,  Frank  A.  Brockway  is  the 
oldest  in  the  business.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century  Mr. 
Brockway  has  been  writing  for  the  Associated  Press. 


470 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


He  is  fifty-six  years  old  and  gained  his  first  newspaper 
experience  with  the  New  York  Mail  and  Express.  Mr. 
Austin  0.  Plunkett,  the  Herald  man,  is  an  old  soldier. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Division  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventieth  Regiment  of  New  York  and 
was  wounded  during  the  siege  of  Petersburgh  at  Reams 
Station,  Virginia,  August  25,  1864.  When  Mr.  Plunkett 
returned  from  the  war  he  was  a  captain.  During  the 
Fenian  invasion  of  Canada  he  acted  as  correspondent  for 
the  Herald  and  wrote  some  excellent  articles,  which 
were  largely  read  and  commented  upon.  In  1866  Mr. 
Plunkett  came  to  Brooklyn  to  take  the  place  of  police 
reporter.  The  gentleman  is  45  years  of  age  and  has 
been  with  the  Herald  twenty- six  years.  William  Crook 
is  at  headquarters  for  the  Sun.  He  is  an  Irishman, 
thirty-eight  years  of  age.  Mr.  Crook  was  first  with  the 
Union,  for  which  paper  he  did  police  work  for  over  five 
years.  He  then  went  to  the  Argus  and  remained  with 
it  until  it  was  merged  into  the  Union.  He  was  next  em- 
ployed by  the  Eagle  and  three  years  ago  went  to  the  Sun. 
He  has  performed  some  creditable  work,  and  is  held  in 
esteem  by  all  his  co -laborers.  William  Palmer  has  been 
for  seven  years  police  reporter  for  the  Trihune.  He  suc- 
ceeded his  brother  Archibald,  who  performed  the  same 
duties  for  the  Tribune  for  four  years.  Mr.  Palmer  is 
thirty -two  years  old. 

The  Journal  is  supplied  with  the  news  by  Tyler  F. 
Blackwell,  who  has  been  on  this  paper  over  four  years. 
Mr.  Blackwell  has  had  long  experience  at  the  work,  hav- 
ing been  with  the  Tribune  a  number  of  years.  Frank 
Fisher,  an  intimate  friend  of  Governor  Hill,  writes  for 
the  Star.  He  was  a  reporter  on  the  staff  of  the  Govern- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIAXS. 


4:71 


or's  paper  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  and  has  only  been  with 
the  Star  a  year. 

Sanders  F.  Shanks  has  been  employed  by  the  Times 
for  three  years .  He  is  a  son  of  W.  F.  G.  Shanks,  one 
of  the  editors  of  the  Tribune,  smd  is  twenty-four  years  old. 
William  Sieman  is  police  reporter  for  the  Staats  Zeitung. 
He  was  formerly  connected  Avith  the  Freie  Presse  and 
Long  Island  Anzeiger  and  has  done  good  work  for  all 
three  papers. 

Last,  but  not  least,  comes  Edmund  S.  Linehan,  one 
of  the  brightest  reporters  at  Police  Headquarters.  The 
World  has  had  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Linehan's  services  about 
a  year.  He  wrote  his  first  article  for  the  Montreal  (Can- 
ada) Star,  and  was  sent  to  Xew  York  as  correspondent. 
While  at  that  work  Mr.  Linehan  w^as  offered  a  position 
on  the  Union  and  accepted  it.  He  became  police  re- 
porter and  remained  in  that  caj^acity  until  he  went  with 
the  World.  Mr.  Linehan  is  but  twenty-tw^o  years  old, 
but  has  performed  some  excellent  work. 

Mr.  Linehan's  exploit  with  a  double  murder  which 
occurred  on  the  barque  Mozart,  lying  at  the  foot  of 
Baltic  Street,  in  August,  1 885,  in  a  great  part  made 
his  reputation.  He  learned  that  a  murder  had  been 
committed  at  the  place,  and  hastening  there  he  got  all 
the  particulars  and  sent  the  news  to  the  Union,  which 
had  an  extra  on  the  street  announcing  the  crime  before 
it  was  reported  at  Police  Headquarters.  When  Captain 
Jewett  mysteriously  disappeared,  Mr.  Linehan  worked 
day  and  night  to  find  out  the  cause.  He  finally  dis- 
covered it,  and  the  result  was  that  the  World  published 
over  a  column  about  the  matter  before  the  Brooklyn 
papers  knew  the  facts  of  the  case.    These  and  many 


472 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


other  pieces  of  good  work  have  made  Mr.  Linehan  a  val- 
uable assistant  to  any  paper. 

Many  of  the  best-known  Brooklyn  journalists  have 
served  an  apprenticeship  as  police  reporter.  Kenward 
Philp,  John  Nolan,  William  Muldoon,  Frank  G.  Spooner, 
William  McFeeters,  George  Spinney,  William  J.  Gaynor, 
Ernst  Pardessous,  Norris  Clowes,  James  McDermott, 
Archibald  Gordon,  Marc  Cook  and  William  Hudson  are 
a  few  of  the  more  prominent  who  have  achieved  feats 
worthy  of  mention  in  this  field  of  labor.  The  city 
authorities  have  assigned  a  room  to  the  press  in  the  top 
floor  of  the  Municipal  Building.  It  is  light,  comfortable 
and  well  ventilated,  and  equipped  with  the  cracked  desks, 
leaky  inkstands,  the  treacherous  chairs,  sputtering  pens 
and  vile  paper  which  seem  necessary  to  report orial  life. 
The  favorite  room  of  the  fraternity,  however,  is  the 
detectives'  room  at  Headquarters.  It  is  '^nearer  to 
news,"  more  comfortable  and  sociable,  and  it  is  fre- 
quented by  detectives  and  other  police  officials  who  are 
companionable  and  interesting.  Both  rooms  are  in  daily 
use  by  the  press,  those  who  prefer  quiet  and  order  when 
working  using  the  Mansard,  while  the  rest  seek  the 
pleasure  of  official  company. 

The  relations  of  the  reporters  among  themselves  vary 
according  to  instructions  from  their  superiors.  Every 
police  reporter  is  supposed  to  send  his  paper  every  item 
of  interest  that  occurs  at  Headquarters  or  that  is  report- 
ed from  the  precincts.  The  amount  of  news  he  gathers, 
the  style  in  which  he  treats  it  and,  above  all,  the  stories 
that  he  exclusively  gets  and  reports,  measure  his  ability 
and  standing.  As  every  man  has  his  own  method  of 
working,  it  is  clear  that  the  police  news  in  the  various 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


478 


papers  Avill  vary  as  the  men  vary  who  represent  them. 
Every  now  and  then  the  reporters  combine  into  an 

associated  press,"  each  contributing  all  the  news  he  has 
gathered  to  all  the  rest.  The  result  of  the  combination 
is  that  all  the  papers  have  a  larger  and  better  amount  of 
news  than  they  enjoy  when  each  reporter  works  for  him- 
self. But  all  of  them  have  the  same  news,  none  hav- 
ing more  nor  less  than  any  other.  This  may  happen 
once  or  many  times  before  the  combination  is  detected 
or  is  forbidden  by  the  newspaper.  The  old  rule  again 
l)revails  and  each  man  works  for  himself.  However 
friendly  one  scribe  may  be  to  another  personally,  yet  the 
rivalry  thus  required  of  him  leads  to  all  sorts  of  queer 
practices  and  tricks  more  than  worthy  of  the  bitterest 
hostility  and  even  malice  that  the  brain  can  devise. 

A  good  story  in  this  regard  is  told  of  a  well-known 
Brooklyn  journahst,  who  was  assigned  to  report  the  exe- 
cution of  a  murderer  in  a  country  town.  He  arrived  at 
the  jail  the  night  before  and  went  immediately  to  work 
upon  the  case.  He  learned  that  the  hour  for  the  hang- 
ing was  at  any  time  between  ten  o'clock  and  twelve  ; 
that  though,  as  a  matter  of  courtesy,  the  sheriff  respited 
the  criminal  till  the  last  moment,  he  had  the  power  of 
execution  at  the  first-named  hour.  He  also  learned  that 
there  was  no  other  train  until  eleven  o'clock  next  morn- 
ing, and  that  unless  they  used  horses,  no  other  reporters 
would  be  there  until  that  time.  The  desire  to  get  a 
''beat"  with  this  journalist  was  an  instinct.  He 
immediately  conceived  a  plan  to  obtain  one  and  in  i)ui'- 
suance  of  it  visited  the  sheriff.  To  that  astonished  offi- 
cial the  reporter,  after  expressing  sympathy  for  the 
criminal,  the  criminal's  family,  the  hangman  and  the 


474 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


sheriff  himself,  put  the  query  whether,  if  the  condemned 
so  desired  it,  he  could  be  hanged  at  ten  o'clock  instead 
of  noon.  The  sheriff  answered  in  the  affirmative.  The 
reporter  then  called  upon  the  criminal,  put  him  into 
good  humor  with  cigars  and,  it  is  said,  other  delicacies, 
and  then  asked  him  how  his  family  were  situated. 

The  poor  devil,  in  whom  vice  and  sin  had  not  crushed 
out  all  that  was  good,  burst  into  tears,  and  after  deprecat- 
ing his  own  fault  said  that  they  were  penniless  and  that 
he  would  do  anything  to  get  them  a  few  dollars.  The 
reporter  offered  to  give  the  family  fifty  dollars  if  the 
condemned  would  request  to  be  hanged  at  ten  instead  of 
noon.  The  offer  was  promptly  accepted,  the  sheriff 
called  in  to  ratify  the  contract  and  to  hold  the  money 
in  trust.  He  consented  to  both  and  received  the 
money.  Next  evening,  after  completing  a  newsy  biog- 
raphy of  the  condemned,  with  some  pleasant  remarks 
about  the  sheriff,  the  reporter  attended  the  execution, 
which  came  off  at  ten  sharp.  When  life  was  pronounced 
extinct  and  the  corpse  cut  down,  he  rushed  to  the  tele- 
graph office  and  engaged  the  telegrapher  to  forward  no 
other  message  until  his  work  was  done.  For  a  few  dol- 
lars the  operator  consented.  The  report  was  put  in  and 
as  it  was  being  telegraphed  he  finished  the  description 
of  the  hanging.  Eleven  o'clock  came,  the  train  arrived, 
and  the  reporters  ran  e7i  masse  to  the  jail,  where,  to  their 
unspeakable  astonishment,  they  found  the  affair  all  over. 
Writing  a  brief  account  from  the  statements  of  eye-wit- 
nesses they  raced  for  the  telegraph-office.  Here,  to  fheii 
disgust  and  indescribable  profanity,  they  found  the 
Brooklynite  in  possession  of  the  wires.  He  had  sent  the 
whole  story  and  was  now  telegraphing  the  Bible  from 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  475 

Genesis  I.  1,  in  order  to  prevent  the  news  reaching  any 
afternoon  newspaper  excepting  his  own.  It  is  hardly 
needful  to  state  that  he  succeeded  absolutely  and  that 
his  journal  had  the  greatest  beat  of  the  year. 

In  another  case  holding  the  wires  was  not  so  success- 
ful. One  Saturday  afternoon  last  winter  a  reporter  on 
The  Citizen  received  instructions  from  Managing  Editor 
George  Gordon,  at  twenty  minutes  of  four,  to  catch  the 
four  o'clock  train  at  Jersey  City  and  report  a  secret 
meeting  of  glass-blowers  then  on  strike  at  Glassboro',  N.J. 

^'  Xo  train  to  Glassboro'  or  any  possible  way  to  get 
there,''  said  the  ticket  agent ;  but  by  the  kind  aid  of  a 
freight  train  on  the  West  Jersey  road,  the  reporter 
arrived  at  his  destination  at  just  half  past  ten  that  night. 

The  snow  was  about  a  foot  deep  and  more  coming 
down  every  minute.  The  meeting  was  over,  and  several 
reporters  from  Philadelphia  in  possession  of  the  facts 
refused  to  '  ^  give  up"  to  the  scribe  from  Brooklyn.  How- 
ever, he  followed  them  to  the  telegraph  office,  about  a 
mile  from  the  town,  arriving  just  as  the  Philadelphia 
Record  man  handed  his  copy  to  the  operator. 

Considerable  growling  from  the  Brooklyn  man  ensued, 
but  it  was  of  no  use.  He  seated  himself  beside  the 
operator,  looked  downcast,  but  kept  writing  on  the  backs 
of  telegraph  blanks.  The  Record  man's  story  was  fin- 
ished ;  but  to  hold  the  wire  and  score  a  ''beat,"  he  com- 
menced to  repeat  what  had  already  been  sent. 

"Hold  on,"  said  the  man  from  Brooklyn.  ''Give  us 
a  chance.    We  don't  want  to  be  beaten." 

"  What's  the  matter  with  you  ?"  answered  the  Record 
man. 

"  Nothing,  only  I'm  a  telegraph  operator  myself  and 


476 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


having  just  copied  your  story,  want  to  send  it  to 
Brooklyn. " 

At  first  the  reporters  didn't  beheve  his  statement,  but 
when  the  Brooklynite  took  the  operator's  chair  and  sent 
his  own  copy  they  thought  differently. 

The  relations  between  the  police  and  the  press  are  con- 
ducted almost  exclusively  through  the  police  and  other 
reporters.  Every  policeman  keeps  a  note-book,  in  which 
he  is  required  to  enter  details  of  all  important  cases. 
These  are  condensed  and  entered  upon  the  station-house 
blotter,  which  also  contains  a  record  of  arrests,  crimes, 
fires  and  other  events  in  which  the  officers  are  officially 
interested.  Each  precinct  sends  daily  to  headquarters  a 
report  which  contains  in  brief  form  all  the  important 
facts  of  the  blotter,  and  especially  a  statement  of  arrests 
and  crimes.  To  these,  excepting  in  a  few  special  instances 
where  the  ends  of  justice  require  it,  or  great  social  or 
political  influence  is  brought  to  bear  to  keep  their  con- 
tents unknown  to  the  public,  the  reporters  are  given 
access  and  make  from  them  the  memoranda  on  which 
are  based  their  stories.  Most  of  the  arrests  are  "drunks 
and  disorderlies,"  of  no  interest  to  the  public  excepting 
when  the  luckless  offender  has  some  social  or  professional 
position,  when  his  peccadillo  is  described  in  glowing 
colors.  An  actor,  minister,  dude,  or  Sunday-school  and 
church  official  who  is  apprehended  for  intoxication  is  a 
delicious  bit  of  news  to  every  professional  scribe.  Poli- 
ticians, newspaper  men,  lawyers  and  sporting  men  are, of 
no  value  in  this  regard,  probably  for  the  reason  that  the 
event  with  them  is  so  common  as  to  be  a  matter  of 
course. 

In  cases  of  crimes  or  arrests  of  journalistic  importance, 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


477 


the  reporter  visits  the  station-house,  and  there  interviews 
the  accused,  the  officer,  detectives  and  any  witnesses  he 
may  find.  When  the  occurrence  is  newsy,  he  notifies 
his  office  and  has  one  or  more  reporters  to  help  him. 
Besides  these  visits  by  the  pohce  reporters  who  come 
direct  from  headquarters,  there  are  others.  Nearly  all 
city  editors  make  it  a  point  to  ''cover"  th?  station-houses 
once  or  more  a  day,  and  so  gather  news  as  well  as  utilize 
employees  at  leisure,  assist  space-w^riters  and  break  new 
men  into  harness.  A  third  class  of  visits  is  from  free- 
lances, who  drop  in  to  gain  information  which  they  can 
make  into  new^s  items  or  specials.  These  they  sell  to  the 
papers  which  they  believe  will  pay  them  the  highest 
price  for  their  Avork. 

The  police  are  also  of  great  use  to  the  press  in  giving 
information  in  regard  to  lost,  missing  and  fugitive  per- 
sons, processions,  mass  meetings,  fires  and  accidents,  the 
record  and  reputation  of  candidates,  officials,  civil  liti- 
gants and  prominent  men,  and  in  fact  in  regard  to  almost 
anything  of  general  interest.  In  publishing  police  news 
all  first-class  newspapers  have  the  same  practice.  The 
news  must  be  accurately  written  and  verified.  The  law- 
as  to  libel  allows  an  editor  to  publish  in  full  a  correct 
account  of  any  occurrence,  but  punishes  with  heavy 
damages,  fine  or  imprisonment  garbled,  distorted  or  ex- 
aggerated statements  which  tend  to  inflict  injury  upon 
private  reputation.  In  publishing  accounts  of  police 
trials,  the  newspapers  usually  treat  breaches  of  duty  in 
a  humorous,  and  seldom  in  a  serious,  vein.  Those  that 
appear  in  the  Eagle,  the  Times  and  i?et7"ei(;  are  generally 
the  most  complete,  and  are  always  good  reading.  On 
the  other  hand,  grave  offences  committed  by  policemen 


478 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


receive  a  greater  condemnation  than  those  by  men  in 
private  hfe.  The  cases  of  Sergeant  Crowley  and  Officer 
O'EourkCj  and  many  others,  are  still  too  fresh  in  the  pub- 
lic mind  to  need  enlarging.  Thus  far  the  Brooklyn 
police  have  had  a  singularly  excellent  record  in  this 
respect.  In  the  past  ten  years  only  one  felony  has  been 
committed  by  an  officer — that  was  bigamy  (and  let  it  be 
added  in  palliation  of  the  offence)  superinduced  by  ex- 
cessive mother-in-law. 


CHAPTER  XXVIIL 


Brooklyn's  criminal  lawyers. 


Relations  of  Lawyers  and  Police. — Prominent  Barristers. — Fran- 
cis A.  McCloskey. — A  Help  to  Justice. — Tricks  Whereby  the 
Guilty  Escape. — How  Billy  Leete  was  Acquitted  at  Sessions. — 
The  Way  a  Boarding-house  Fiend  Works. — An  Irate  Landlady. 
— Coney  Island  Gamblers  Deceive  Anthony  Comstock. — Detect- 
ive Lowery's  Story  of  a  Beautiful  Blackmailer.— The  Method 
OF  an  Ingenious  Adventuress. — Transparent  En^t:lopes. — A 
Woman  and  a  Lawyer  Outwit  Justice. — Exposure  a  Good  Card 
Against  a  Complainant. — The  Political  Machine  as  a  Legal 
Remedy. — The  Beecher-Tilton  Trial  — The  Prosecution  of 
Commissioners  Flaherty  and  Bennett.— Police  Court  Juries.— 
Excise  Trials  a  Farce. — Beer  Xot  Intoxicating. — The  New 
York  Life  Insurance  $70,000  Forgery.— District  Attorney  Ridg- 
way's  Famous  Trick.— Criminal  Lawyers  Poorly  Paid. — Shysters 
AND  Pettifoggers. — Their  Poverty  and  Misery. — Criminal  Law- 
yers IN  Politics  and  in  Office. 

(JT  FEATURE  of  Brooklyn  social  life  is  the  zeal  with 
/ij  which  crimes  of  every  kind  are  prosecuted.  In  most 
cities  there  is  a  very  large  element  who  would  rather 
let  small  offences  go  unpunished  than  lose  the  time  and 
trouble  required  by  law  to  convict  the  offender.  Another 
class,  especially  large  in  New  York,  relies  entirely  upon 
the  District  Attorney's  office,  and  the  other  machinery  of 
justice,  and  refuses  to  expend  money  in  punishing  a 
criminal,  even  when  the  wrong  has  been  committed 
against  themselves.  These  classes  are  remarkably  few 
in  number  in  Brooklyn.    Not  only  are  wrong-doers 


480 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


prosecuted,  but  the  desire  to  see  abstract  justice  done 
goes  as  far  as  to  bring  the  most  trifling  disputes  into 
court .  This  tendency  borders  upon  the  ridiculous  when, 
as  sometimes  happens,  a  six-foot  policeman  brings  a 
small  boy  into  court  whose  sole  offence  has  been  the 
accurate  use  of  a  putty  blower,  or  calling  names  at  some 
fancied  foe.  On  the  other  hand  it  largely  adds  to  the 
income  of  the  six  hundred  practising  lawers  of  the  city. 
These  in  the  main  are  able,  intellectual  and  cultured 
men.  Only  about  one -tenth  accept  retainers  in  criminal 
cases,  the  vast  majority  knowing  but  little  of  criminal 
law,  and  attending  exclusively  to  real  estate  and  civil 
litigation. 

A  few  brief  sketches  of  some  of  our  most  prominent 
criminal  lawyers  will  not  be  out  of  place  in  a  police  his- 
tory. Among  the  best  known  are:  Francis  A.  McCloskey, 
Gen.  Benjamin  F.  Tracy,  once  United  States  District 
Attorney  and  afterwards  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  ; 
Hon.  James  Troy,  ex-County  Judge  ;  Hon.  George  G. 
Eeynolds,  ex-City  Court  Judge  ;  Gen.  Isaac  F.  Catlin 
and  Hon.  Samuel  D.  Morris,  both  ex-District  Attorneys; 
Hon.  Henry  A.  Moore,  County  Judge ;  Hon.  James 
W.  Eidgway,  the  present  District  Attorney ;  Hon. 
Mark  Wilbur,  United  States  District  Attorney  ;  John 
H.  Kemble,  Jere  Wernberg,  John  U.  Shorter,  William 
J.  Gaynor,  Jesse  Johnson,  John  F.  Clark,  Edmund  B. 
Barnum,  Thomas  E.  Pearsall,  Baldwin  F.  Strauss,  Henry 
B.  Davis,  Eobert  F.  Payne,  Henry  Meyenborg,  John  C. 
Maguire,  Anthony  Barrett,  A.  W.  Gleason,  Patrick 
Keady,  Samuel  Hemingway,  Frank  W.  Angell,  David 
T.  Lynch,  James  T.  Williamson,  Charles  J.  Patterson, 
and  John  E.  Bergen. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS.  481 

Francis  A.  McCloskey,  counsel  to  the  police  commis- 
sioners, was  born  in  Broiklyn,  July  28th,  1800.  He 
first  attended  public  school  No.  5,  which  school  he  left 
while  in  the  graduating  class  to  go  to  St.  Francis  Xavier 
College,  New  York  city,  where  he  graduated  with  high 
honors  in  the  class  of  1881.  He  entered  the  Columbia 
College  Law  School,  where  during  his  two  years'  course  of 
study  he  was  noted  for  close  application  to  study  and  as  a 
man  of  great  intellectual  powers.  In  June  of  1883  he 
was  graduated.  In  May  1883,  a  month  prior  to  his 
graduation  from  the  Columbia  Law  School,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  a  short  while  after  his  grad- 
uation, entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother 
Henry,  with  whom  he  distinguished  himself  by  winning 
several  important  law  suits.  On  Feburary  1st,  1886,  he 
was  appointed  successor  to  Albert  E.  Lamb,  as  counsel 
to  the  Police  Board,  which  position  he  has  filled  with 
great  credit,  having  only  lost  one  case  of  the  many  he 
has  tried,* and  has  probably  given  more  legal  opinions 
than  any  one  of  his  predecessors  in  the  same  length  of 
time. 

It  is  also  a  part  of  Counsel  McCloskey's  duties  to 
defend  policemen  when  sued  for  false  arn^st  or  for 
assaults.  Among  the  many  suits  of  this  kind  was 
that  of  Captain  McKelvey,  when  the  amount  involved 
was  about  five  thousand  dollars  ;  the  suit  was  tried  three 
times,  in  every  one  of  which  the  counselor  was  success- 
ful. He  also  defended  Policeman  Patrick  Hayes,  who 
was  sued  for  two  thousand  dollars  for  false  imprison- 
ment, where  success  again  crowned  his  hard  efforts,  and 
more  lately  he  defended  Policeman  Duffer,  who  shot  a 
man  during  the  strikes  in  December  last  ;  it  seems  that 


482 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


the  strikers  assaulted  the  officer  and  attempted  to  take 
his  club  from  him.  In  self-defence  Duffer  was  com- 
pelled to  draw  his  revolver  and  shoot  one  of  the  disturb- 
ers. The  trial  lasted  for  some  time,  and  Mr.  McCloskey 
obtained  his  discharge.  He  also  assisted,  at  the  request 
of  Lawyer  Geo.  Elliott,  in  the  defence  of  Policeman 
Wasserman,  who  was  tried  at  about  the  same  time  and 
on  almost  the  same  charge  as  Officer  Dutfer. 

Among  his  other  duties  is  that  of  defending  the  action 
of  the  Police  Commissioner  in  removing  subordinates. 
Shortly  after  his  appointment.  Commissioner  Carroll  re- 
moved Patrolman  Hayes  for  assaulting  a  citizen  ;  and 
the  officer  having  taken  the  matter  into  court,  it  was 
held  that  the  action  of  the  Commissioner  could  not  be 
interfered  with.  Again:  Two  bridge  keepers  in  the 
employ  of  the  city,  having  been  summarily  removed, 
sued  out  a  writ  of  certiorari  to  compel  the  Com- 
missioner to  reinstate  them.  Upon  the  case  being 
argued,  Mr.  McCloskey  contended  that  the  Commissioner 
had  absolute  power  of  removal,  and  in  this  contention 
he  was  supported  by  Justice  CuUen,  before  whom  the 
case  was  tried.  Not  so  very  long  ago,  also,  the  j^olice  boat 
''Judge  Moore"  picked  up  a  canal  boat  loaded  with 
coal,  and  the  crew  of  the  ''Moore,"  through  Mr. 
McCloskey,  libelled  the  owners  of  the  coal  for  salvage. 
The  decision  of  Judge  Benedict  is  now  being  looked  for 
with  anxiety  by  the  parties  interested,  for  the  reason 
that  the  point  involved — whether  a  policemen  has  a 
right  to  salvage — is  a  novel  one.  Being  counselor  to 
the  Police  Department,  he  is,  of  course,  also  counselor  to 
the  Excise  Board,  and  has  several  important  cases  now 
pending  which  keep  him  very  busy  from  early  morn  to 


FRANCIS  A.  McCLOSKEY 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


485 


late  at  night.  Mr.  McCloskey  is  a  tall,  slim  young  man, 
and  looks  to  be  a  little  older  than  he  really  is,  which  is 
probably  caused  by  his  close  apphcation  to  study,  which 
has  also,  perhaps,  been  the  cause  of  his  wearing  glasses. 
He  has  auburn  hair  and  light  sandy  mustache,  and  to 
gaze  on  him  one  would  wonder  that  one  small  head 
could  contain  all  he  knew. 

The  relations  between  the  bar  and  the  police  are,  and 
haye  always  been,  cordial  and  intimate.  It  is  a  matter 
of  every  day  occurrence  for  lawyers  to  volunteer  their 
services  to  policemen  in  trouble,  or  to  present  to  their 
clients  receipted  bills  after  the  case  is  over.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  police  extend  every  possible  courtesy  to 
the  profession.  Paradoxical  as  it  may  seem  to  many 
who  have  not  thought  upon  the  subject,  this  state  of 
affairs  insues  to  the  public  weal  and  to  the  detriment  of 
the  criminal  classes.  Nearly  all  professional  lawbreak- 
ers Avho  come  to  Brooklyn  are  known  more  or  less  to  the 
police  and  the  bar.  Arrested,  whether  red-handed  in  the 
act  or  merely  upon  suspicion,  the  moment  a  criminal  is 
arraigned  he  is  almost  always  identified  and  revealed  to 
the  court  by  either  one  or  the  other.  The  practice 
of  employing  an  experienced  lawyer  to  prosecute  in- 
creases the  danger  to  which  a  "crook"  is  exposed. 
These  causes  must  be  added  to  the  efficiency  of  the  Dis- 
trict Attorney's  office,  the  superb  conduct  of  the  Court 
of  Sessions  and  the  admirable  discipline  of  the  pohce,  in 
explaining  the  dislike  of  criminals  towards  visiting 
Brooklyn,  and  their  anxiety  and  terror  when  appre- 
hended upon  any  charge.  Despite  the  foregoing,  the 
guilty  frequently  escape  through  the  ingenuity  and 
shrewdness  of  the  lawyers.    This  was  well  illustrated  in 


486 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


a  'trial  in  the  Court  of  Sessions.  The  accused,  WiUiam 
F.  Leete,  ahas  Billy  Leete  and  Billy  Smith,  was  a  pro- 
fessional thief  of  the  kind  known  as  a  "  boarding-house 
fiend."  He  would  select  some  fashionable  boarding- 
house,  and,  through  the  aid  of  accomplices,  learn  what 
jewelry  and  precious  stones  were  owned  by  the  guests, 
how  much  money  they  usually  carried,  where  they 
kept  their  valuables,  their  rooms,  habits  and  weaknesses. 
After  he  was  thoroughly  informed,  he  would  call  in  the 
morning  at  an  hour  early  enough  to  prevent  liis  meeting 
the  ladies  in  the  house  aiid  sufficiently  late  to  escape  the 
gentlemen  on  their  way  to  business^  and  would  engage 
a  room,  paying  a  week's  board  in  advance.  The  next 
day  he  would  return  at  the  hour  when  most  of  the  in- 
mates were  out,  and  would  express  surprise  that  his 
trunks  had  not  arrived.  Eetiring  to  his  room  on  some 
pretext,  he  would  rapidly  break  and  enter  the  other 
dwelling  rooms  with  skeleton  keys,  and  ransack  every 
bureau  and  trunk.  By  knowing  in  advance  his  prospec- 
tive booty,  he  succeeded  nine  times  out  of  ten  in  securing 
it  and  escaping  in  safety.  On  the  occasion  in  question  he 
was  arrested  several  days  after  the  robbery,  but  no  trace 
nor  clue  could  be  found  of  the  stolen  g..)ods,  which 
amounted  in  value  to  $2,000.  He  was  tried,  and  the  only 
evidence  against  him  was  the  testimony  of  the  landlady, 
who  identified  him  beyond  cavil.  Leete's  counsel  bad- 
gered  her  until  she  was  white  with  rage,  and  then  draw- 
ing a  letter  from  his  pocket  handed  it  to  her  with  the 
request  that  she  would  read  it,  and  then  tell  him  if  it 
were  true.  As  the  inference  to  be  drawn  from  the  ac 
tion  was  that  the  witness  had  written  a  compromising 
or  contradictory  statement,  the  attention  of  both  judge 


Brooklyn's  guardians.  4^7 

and  District  Attorney  was  turned  to  the  letter.  In  (Ik^ 
half -minute  the  reading  consumed,  the  prisoner  changed 
seats  with  his  hrother,  who  had  been  sitting  behind  the 
counsel.  The  jury  saw  the  act,  but  it  was  noticed  by  no 
one  else.  The  reading  over,  the  letter,  which  of  course, 
had  no  connection  with  the  case,  was  given  to  the  Dis- 
trict Attorney,  who  perused  it  while  the  examination 
continued. 

You  swore  that  this  is  the  man.  Can  you  not  be 
mistaken  ?" 

^'No,"  she  arswered  not  half  looking  at  the  prisoner, 
"  I  can't  and  you  can't  fool  me." 

'^Will  you  swear  that  that  young  man  with  the 
blonde  mustache  (pointing  to  a  youth  on  the  other  side 
of  the  court  room,  who  immediately  turned  purple,  to 
the  amusement  of  the  court,  public,  and  especially  the 
jury)  is  not  the  man 

Of  course  I  will  I"  with  great  vehemence. 

"Will  you  swear  this  is  not  the  man  f  pointing  out 
the  prisoner. 

"  No,  that  isn't  the  man.  He  don't  resemble  him  in 
the  slightest. " 

"  Are  you  absolutely  certain  ?" 
"Perfectly!" 

At  this  point  a  sharp  court  officer  detected  the  strat- 
agem and  reported  it  to  the  District  Attorney.  He  made 
an  indignant  appeal  to  the  couit,  who,  in  turn,  adminis- 
tered a  scathing  rebuke  to  the  counsel,  prisoner  and 
brother.  But  the  evil  had  been  done,  and  the  identifica- 
tion was  worthless.  Though  judge  and  jury  were 
morally  certain  of  Leete's  guilt,  yet  upon  the  evidence  the 
latter  were  reluctantly  compelled  to  find  a  vei'diet  of  not 


488 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


guilty.  The  prisoner  was  discharged,  to  continue  his 
criminal  career,  while  the  landlady  and  the  unfortunate 
guest  who  had  been  robbed  departed  to  their  home 
breathing  a  strong  desire  to  lynch  both  Leete  and 
lawyer. 

A  similar  deception  was  practiced  during  Gen.  Catlin's 
administration  as  District  Attorney.  Anthony  Coni- 
stock,  after  many  threats,  caused  a  raid  to  made  upon 
the  Coney  Island  pool  sellers.  The  gamblers  wei  e  fore- 
warned and  took  measures  accordingly.  Of  more  than 
twenty  arrested,  not  one  gave  his  real  name,  but  nearly 
all  gave  the  names  of  their  brothers,  or  of  men  who  re- 
sembled them  in  face  and  feature.  All  gave  bail  to 
appear  before  the  Sessions.  When  the  trials  came  on, 
some  months  afterward,  all  the  accused,  their  friends, 
bondsmen  and  witnesses  packed  the  court  room.  The 
first  case  was  called  and  the  complaining  witness  put 
upon  the  stand.  The  moment  his  gaze  fell  upon  the 
prisoner  his  face  fell,  and  at  the  first  material  question 
he  broke  down  and  could  not  identify  the  accused,  who 
was  promptly  discharged.  The  same  farce  marked  the 
next  four  or  five  trials,  until  the  District  Attorney  gave 
up  the  entire  business  in  disgust.  The  year  following 
all  the  indictments  w^ere  buried  forever  by  a  nolle  prose- 
qiii.  False  personation  is  only  one  of  many  methods 
adopted  by  criminal  lawyers  to  secure  the  release  of 
their  clients  in  seemingly  hopeless  cases.  Detective 
John  Lowery,  of  the  First  Precinct,  tells  a  story  which, 
as  a  picture  of  life  in  a  great  city,  is  well  worthr  re- 
peating. 

Mrs.  Robinson,  alias  Miss  May  Roberts,  alias  Mrs. 
Agnes  Darling,  boarded  in  1884,  in  Johnson  street,  near 


BROOKLYxN'S  GUARDIAXi?.  489 

Adams.  She  was  a  strikingly  handsome  brunette,  who 
dressed  with  exquisite  taste  and  whose  manners  were 
faultless.  To  the  landlady  and  guests  she  was  known  as 
a  very  respectable  and  religious  young  widow,  whose 
husband  had  left  her  enough  money  to  live  upon  in  com- 
fort. In  reality  she  was  one  of  the  brightest  and  most 
unscrupulous  adventuresses  that  ever  came  to  Brooklyn. 
Her  mode  of  doing  business  was  ingenious  and  unique. 
In  the  morning,  after  making  a  careful  toilet,  she  would 
stroll  down  Montague  street  and  cross  over  to  New  Yoi  k 
by  the  Wall  street  ferry,  about  the  time  the  solid  busi- 
ness men  go  to  their  offices.  She  never  flirted,  especially 
with  young  men  ;  and  never,  under  any  circumstances, 
with  those  who  did  not  bear  the  appearance  of  v/ealth  ; 
but  to  florid,  elderly,  wealthy  gentlemen  she  gave  the 
idea,  however,  that  she  could  be  safely  addressed  with- 
out the  usual  formality  of  an  introduction.  The  result 
always  was  that  when  she  reached  the  New  York  side 
she  was  conversing  with  some  future  victim.  They 
would  make  an  appointment  for  the  same  day  or  the 
next,  and  nearly  always  it  w^as  kept.  Her  conduct  at 
even  the  most  delicate  times  was  something  to  earn  the 
praise  of  the  most  fastidious.  She  never  asked,  nor  even 
hinted  for  money  in  the  early  stages  of  each  attachment, 
but  pleaded  love  at  first  sight  as  her  overwhelming  mo- 
tive. An  admirable  actress,  she  flattered  and  cajoled 
each  middle-aged  admirer,  until  he  regarded  her  as  an 
angel.  Meantime,  she  wormed  from  him  all  the  infor- 
mation possible  about  his  business,  family,  children, 
and  especially  about  his  fair  friends.  Two  or  three 
weeks  after  their  first  meeting,  and  when  she  had 
enough  of  his  secrets  for  her  working-capital,  she  would 


490 


BROOKl  YN'S  guardians. 


send  a  piteous  appeal  for  one  or  two  hundred  dollars.  It 
generally  came,  and  when  it  did  the  victim  began  a  series 
of  experiences  in  blackmail  that  were  to  last  for  months 
and  even  years.  When  it  did  not  she  played  a  card  that 
was  a  novelty  to  all  the  force.  Taking  a  sheet  of  heavy 
note  paper,  she  wrote  on  it  in  a  bold  hand  and  with  a 
coarse  pen.    On  the  first  page  would  be  : 

"My  Darling- 
How  can  you  be  so  cruel  to  one  whose  only  fault  has  been  to 
love  you  too  well  in  the  estimation  of  the  world  ?    For  Heaven's 
sake  pity  me  in  the  distress  you  have  caused  and  send  me  the 
trifle  you  have  promised." 

And  on  the  last  page  of  the  sheet : 
"  Come  back  to  me  dearest,  because  I  cannot  live  without  you. 
Love  and  many,  many  kisses. 

Your  loving  May." 

This  she  would  fold  and  enclose  in  a  half -trans parent, 
steamboat-paper  envelope,  and  address  it  to  her  admir- 
er's home.  As  it  would  probably  fall  into  the  haxids  of 
his  servants  or  children  before  it  reached  us,  and  as  it 
was  easy  to  half -read  the  letter  through  the  envelope,  it 
would  generally  frighten  him  into  a  prompt  remittance 
the  same  day.  How  many  susceptibles  she  victimized 
in  this  manner  will  never  be  known.  But  her  time 
came  at  last,  as  it  does  to  all  criminals.  Her  last  con- 
quest was  a  wealthy  merchant  who,  however  false  to 
his  vows  and  susceptible  to  immoral  women,  possessed 
great  grit  and  determination.  He  received  one  of  these 
letters,  and  immediately  retained  a  Montague  street  law- 
yer, who,  in  turn,  engaged  a  detecti  ve.  The  investiga- 
tions of  the  latter,  though  carefully  conducted,  were  re- 
ported to  Mrs.  Roberts,  who  retained  a  lawyer  in  turn. 
The  first  lawyer  wrote  her  to  call  upon  him  ;  she  called, 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


declined  to  talk,  but  made  an  ap})()intnient  to  see  him 
and  his  client  the  next  day.  Meantime  she  had  given 
her  own  lawyer  a  statement  of  the  relations  between  her 
admirer  and  two  women  of  high  social  standing,  and 
also  several  letters  from  them,  that  she  had  purloined 
from  her  present  foe.  Her  lawyer  wrote  to  them,  asking 
them  to  call.  They  complied,  and  were  horrified  to  find 
their  secrets  in  his  possession.  They  left  in  search  of 
their  former  lover,  whom  one  of  them  found  on  his  Avay 
to  Justice  Walsh's  for  a  warrant  against  Mrs.  Roberts. 
It  is  needless  to  remark  that  the  warrant  was  never  ap- 
plied for,  and  that  the  trouble  ceased,  so  far  as  she  was 
concerned.  Nevertheless  the  matter  was  reported  to 
Capt.  James  Campbell,  who  made  it  so  unpleasant  for 
for  Mrs.  Roberts  that  she  shortly  after  left  Brooklyn  for 
Chicago  and  has  not  since  been  heard  from.  The  best 
evidence  of  her  skill  was  afforded  after  her  departiu-e  by 
the  discovery  of  the  names  of  five  of  her  victims.  Three 
of  them  were  prominent  and  successful  lawyers. 

This  practice  of  winning  hopeless  cases  by  threats  of 
exposure  or  counter- persecution,  is  much  larger  than  is 
generally  known  or  believed.  Nearly  every  family,  in 
fact,  every  person,  has  some  skeleton  in  the  closet,  and 
however  closely  the  secret  may  be  kept,  it  is  usually 
known  to  a  number  of  people. 

The  misdeeds  of  youth,  the  indiscretions  and  follies  of 
women,  and  the  crimes  committed  under  terrible  temp- 
tation or  intense  passion,  are  all  capital  for  unscrupulous 
lawyers,  and  are  too  frequently  used  as  invuhierable 
defenses  for  wrong-doers. 

Many  criminal  lawyers  carry  in  their  memory  an 
inexhaustible  stock  of  this  kind  of  information.  Others 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


keep  scrap-books  filled  with  published  accounts  of  cases 
involving  local  scandals.  Few,  if  any,  hesitate  to  use 
their  knowledge  to  protect  a  client,  no-  matter  how 
guilty  they  know  him  to  be.  In  this  respect  they  are 
under  great  obligations  to  the  police,  who  invariably  know 
all  the  gossip  and  whispers  affecting  every  one 
upon  their  beat,  and  who  are  never  loath  to  lend  a  help- 
ing hand  to  their  friends  of  the  bar. 

Another  favorite  expedient  of  criminal  lawyers  to 
defeat  the  ends  of  justice,  is  the  employment  of  the 
political  machine.  Brooklyn,  from  a  politician's  stand- 
point, is  admirably  organized.  At  least  one-half  of  all 
the  Eepublicans,  one-third  of  the  Democratic,  two-thirds 
of  the  Labor,  Socialistic  and  Prohibition  voters  are 
enrolled  in  the  registers  of  the  Ward  Associations. 
Beyond  this,  the  active  party  leaders  of  each  ward  and 
even  election  district,  have  private  memoranda  of  the 
political  proclivities  of^  all  w^ho  live  in  their  districts. 
Nearly  all  the  criminal  lawyers  are  more  or  less  promi- 
nent local  politicians,  and  occupy  important  positions  in 
the  machine.  By  applying  their  own  influence,  and 
that  of  the  local  leader  of  the  district,  in  which  a  com- 
plainant or  important  witness  resides,  they  are  often 
able  to  induce,  the  one  to  withdraw  an  action,  or  the 
other  to  keep  judiciously  away  from  the  subpoena- 
server  and  the  court-room. 

The  political  machine  is  put  to  its  hardest  use  in 
trials  involving  large  amounts,  or  the  social  or  political 
status  of  prominent  men. 

In  the  famous  Beecher — Tilton — Moulton  litigation, 
and  in  the  bitter  legal  war  waged  against  Commissioners 
of  City  Work,  John  W.  Flaherty  and  George  C.  Bennett, 


BROOKLYN*S  GUARDIANS.  493 

Purveyor  Milne  and  Superintendent  Dady,  not  only 
were  all  the  witnesses  watched,  their  weaknesses  learned 
and  their  records  searched,  hut  every  juror  upon  the 
panel-list  was  suhjected  to  similar  treatment  hy  picked 
politicians.  When  a  juror  w^as  called  in  either  case,  a 
slip  was  put  into  General  Tracy's  hand  in  one  case,  and 
into  Judge  Troy's  in  the  other,  giving  as  briefly  as  possi- 
ble the  characteristics  and  availability  of  the  man  for  the 
purposes  of  the  defense.  In  the  police  courts  this  prac- 
tice is  carried  to  absurd  lengths.  In  excise  cases  the 
absurdity  becomes  broad  farce.  Public  prejudice  in 
Brooklyn  is  very  strong  against  temperance  spies  and 
persecutions.  In  nearly  every  case  the  talesmen  are 
habitues  of  saloons,  w^ho  are  hard  drinkers  and  whose 
feehngs  tow^ard  the  Prohibitionist  are  those  of  the  dog 
toward  the  cat.  If  there  be  any  possible  explanation  of 
the  usual  conduct  of  a  bar,  they  will  adopt  it  rather  than 
the  natural  inference  of  the  sale  and  delivery  of  liquor. 
They  have  been  repeatedly  know^n  to  find  that  beer,  ale 
and  wine  are  not  intoxicating  ;  that  porter,  lager  and 
whiskey  cocktails  were  ginger  ale  ;  that  an  absolute 
stranger  opened  a  bar  and  sold  drinks  all  day,  w^hile  the 
innocent  landlord  sat  upstairs,  unknowing  of  tlie  fact 
that  he  was  robbed  below  ;  and  that  rye,  bourbon  and 
cognac  were  cider,  by  the  mere  pasting  of  a  label  with 
that  w^ord  superscribed  upon  the  bottle. 

A  frequent  strategern  is  the  skilful  manufacture  and 
publication  of  exaggerated  or  false  statements  in  regai  d 
to  the  personality  and  social  standing  of  a  prisoner.  A 
few^  years  ago  the  New  York  Life  Insurance  Company 
was  defrauded  of  8T0,000,  by  a  forged  check.  In  the 
''gang''  that  accomplished  this  was  a  skilled  criminal, 


BROi )  KL ^  N'S  GU  AKDl  A N S . 


named  or  known  as  Charles  W.  Ponters.  Shortly 
afterwards,  while  being  shadowed  by  the  best  detectives 
in  New  York,  he  committed  a  number  of  crimes  in 
Brooklyn,  and  was  arrested  for  one  almost  in  the  act. 
His  two  lawyers  knew  that  the  moment  his  arrest  was 
published,  his  past  record  would  be  laid  bare  and  a  dozen 
witnesses  come  forward  to  prove  his  reputation.  They 
also  knew  that  the  press  would  publish  the  fact  as  a 
matter  of  news.  Before  the  case  was  called,  in  Judge 
Massey's  Court,  all  the  facts  concerning  "C.  Warren 
Pontious,  a  wealthy  railroad  man  had  been  given  to  the 
press.  A  package  of  wild-cat  Western  bonds  and  mort- 
gages in  his  possession  had  been  magnified  into  $50,000 
U.  S.  four  per  cents.,  and  the  luckless  criminal  was 
transformed.  Some  one  immediately  volunteered  and 
went  bail,  and  the  complainant,  satisfied  that  he  had 
done  injustice  to  a  high-bred  gentlemen,  withdrew  the 
proceeding,  declared  he  had  made  a  mistake,  apologized, 
and  when  all  the  parties  had  left  the  court- room,  treated 
them  to  champagne  and  Reina  Victorias.  The  New 
York  detectives  never  dreamed  that  the  man  they  were 
in  search  of  had  passed  through  a  dangerous  adventure, 
and  one  in  which  they  could  have  put  an  end  to  his 
career  for  a  long  time. 

The  rules  of  evidence  afford  any  number  of  loop-holes 
through  which  jail  birds  crawl  out.  District  Attorney 
Ridgway  availed  himself  of  one,  in  defending  a  saloon- 
keeper who  was  charged  with  a  violation  of  the  excise 
law.  Two  women,  who  were  crusading  on  their  own 
account,  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  entered  the  saloon 
Sunday  afternoon,  in  the  guise  of  topers,  and  easily  in- 
duced the  proprietor  to  sell  them  a  pint  flask  of  whiskey. 


^  BROOKLYN'h  GUARDIAN'S.  495 

The  next  day  they  made  complaint,  and  he  was  arrested 
and  hrought  hefore  Justice  Walsh.  Ridgway  took  six 
similar  flasks  and  filled  them  with  various  fluids, 
making  one  so  noisome  that  it  made  itself  known  the 
moment  it  w^as  hrought  into  the  court-room.  The 
woman  took  the  witness-stand,  testified  to  the  sale  and 
produced  the  criminating  fiask.  Ridgway  took  it  from 
her  hands  and  placed  it  on  the  table  in  front  of  the 
Judge.  Then  from  the  pockets  of  his  coat  he  produced 
the  six  flasks,  and  in  a  moment  mixed  them  so  that  it 
was  impossible  to  detect  the  original.  Then  turning  to 
the  witness,  he  said,  ^'Now,  Madame,  you  have  said 
that  you  can  tell  whiskey  when  you  try  it.  Please 
examine  these  flasks  and  inform  the  court  which 
contains  wiiiskey  and  which  does  not !  "  Then,  adding 
in  a  melodramatic  aside  to  a  brother  lawyer,  loud 
enough  for  the  witness  to  hear,  but  not  the  Judge,  If 
she  smells  or  tastes  one  of  them,  she'll  be  sick  for  a 
week." 

The  witness  naturally  refused  to  test  the  flasks, 
became  frightened,  and  admitted  that  she  might  be 
mistaken  in  her  judgment,  and  that  the  stuft'  she  had 
bought  might  be  any  yellow  fluid  with  a  spirituous 
flavor.  She  was  promptly  excused,  and  the  saloon- 
keeper liberated. 

Another  efiicacious  strategem,  is  what  is  known  as 
the  sympathetic  act."  As  a  matter  of  fact,  few 
professional  criminals  are  married.  Nearly  all,  however, 
live  in  improper  relations  with  abandoned  women  of  all 
types.  Among  these  are  a  few  who  are  handsome,  talk 
well  and  act  better  than  many  star  artists  upon  the 
stage.    In  small  cases,  such  as  petit  larcency.  assault 


496 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIAX9. 


and  battery  and  the  like,  the  lawyer  sends  for  one  of 
these  to  assist  him. 

Her  work  is  always  artistic,  and  frequently  successful. 
She  dresses  herself  in  a  neat,  but  very  worn  and  shabby 
black  dress,  stains  her  shapely  hands  with  chemicals 
until  they  are  pitiable  to  contemplate,  rubs  an  onion  on 
her  nose  until  her  eyes  are  red,  as  if  from  weeping,  and 
then,  with  two  or  three  pretty,  but  even  shabbier  children, 
trained  and  hired  for  the  purpose,  calls  upon  the 
complainant.  The  familiar  story  of  the  starved  wife 
and  children  is  told,  while  she  sobs  and  the  juvenile 
chorus  weeps.  The  complainant,  his  wife  and  family 
finally  sympathize,  relent  and  promise  not  to  prosecute. 
Sometimes  they  even  give  her  money.  She  retires  grate- 
ful, and  the  prisoner  is  discharged  for  lack  of  evidence. 

Owing  to  the  fewness  of  crimes  and  the  absence  of  a 
criminal  class  in  Brooklyn,  the  legal  business  produced 
by  them  is  small  and  unremunerative.  It  may  be  ques- 
tioned if  Greneral  Tracy,  General  Catlin,  or  Judge  Troy, 
the  three  leading  practitioners,  draw  $3,000  a  year, 
apiece,  from  this  element  of  their  practice,  while  twenty - 
five  younger  lawyers  may  derive  $1,000  each.  Below 
these,  however,  are  a  large  number  of  unfortunates, 
whose  office  is  the  dwelling  room  in  their  flat,  and  an 
equal  number  "  w^ho  carry  their  offices  in  their  hats." 

The  condition  of  these  attorneys  is  pitiable  in  the 
extreme.  They  are  nearly  all  pictures  of  poverty  itself. 
They  reach  court  early  in  the  morning  and  hang  around, 
either  in  the  trial-room  or  the  corridor,  accosting  every 
incomer  for  business,  or  watching  for  a  friendly  police- 
man to  give  them  a  hint  as  to  what  prisoner  requires  a 
lawyer.    When  luck  is  good  they  may  get  two  cases,  at 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIAN?^. 


497 


$2.00  each  ;  when  extraordiiiaiy,  a  s5.00or  even  a  $10.0() 
counsel  fee.  When  passable,  they  clear  one  or  t  wo 
dollars  ;  when  bad,  twenty-five  or  fifty  cents,  a  pawn- 
ticket, a  cheap  silver  watch  or  several  glasses  of  whiskey, 
and  when  very  bad,  nothing  at  all.  It  is  generally 
supposed  that  these  unfortunates  have  been  brought  to 
their  present  condition  by  dissipation  and  vice.  Such  is 
seldom  the  case.  Most  of  them  were  law-clerks,  or 
office  boys,  who,  as  soon  as  they  are  admitted  to  the  bar, 
started  to  practice  on  their  own  account,  with  little  or 
no  money  the  first  one  or  two  years  of  their  profes- 
sional career.  Law  seldom  pays  living  expenses  during 
this  period,  so  that  necessity,  in  such  a  case,  would  drive 
a  man  to  the  wall,  or  into  practicing  in  the  manner 
described. 

Others  are  attorneys  from  the  country  or  other  cities, 
who  think  there  is  a  field  for  them  in  Brooklyn,  and 
who  go  there  with  little  money,  little  influence  and  no 
acquaintanceship.  There  are  so  many  of  both  classes 
and  so  little  business  to  be  done,  that  were  it  equally 
divided  among  them,  it  would  barely  afford  a  decent 
livelihood  to  each  one.  But  through  the  competition 
engendered,  and  the  superior  shrewdness  or  unscrupu- 
lousness  of  some  over  others,  each  year  witnesses  the 
success  of  one  or  two  who  open  offices  and  do  well,  and 
the  non-success  of  all  the  rest.  It  also  witnesses  their 
increase  by  a  dozen  new  faces. 

One  feature  of  the  criminal  lawyers  is  worthy  of 
mention.  More  candidates  for  high  elective  and  appoin- 
tive honors  have  been  chosen  from  their  ranks,  in 
proportion  to  their  number,  than  from  any  other  class 
or  profession.    They  have  filled  the  County  Judgeship, 


498 


BROOKLYN'S  GUAKDIANH. 


the  District  Attorneyship,  the  United  States  District 
Attorneyship  and  the  Supervisorship-at-large.  They 
have  been  aldermen,  supervisors,  assemblymen,  senators, 
City  Court,  Supreme  Court,  and  Court  of  Appeals 
Judges,  and  to  their  credit,  have  almost  invariably 
given  satisfaction  to  their  constituencies.  At  the  present 
time,  (1S8T),  they  occupy  no  less  than  twenty  official 
positions  of  importance  in  the  municipality. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


THE  POLICE  PEXSIOX  FUND  AXl)  OTHER  MATTERS. 

Origin  of  the  Fund. — Appointment  of  Officers. — Their  Powers. — 
Rules  and  Regulations. — Trustees  to  Serve  Without  Pay. — 
The  Sources  from  which  the  Fund  is  Drawn. — Who  are  En- 
titled TO  Receive  Pensions. — Proa'isions  for  the  Widows  and 
Orphans. — For  Disabled  Members  of  the  Force. — The  Retired 
List. — Condition  of  the  Fund  at  the  Present  Time. — The  Dog 
Tax  and  How  It  Swells  the  Pension  Fund  — Police  Matrons. — 
Lost  Children. — A  Good  Average  Sample. — Civil  Service  Re- 
form.— The  Annual  Parade. — Conclusion. 

n:^X  June  15th,  1877,  an  act  to  create  a  police  pension 
UJ  fund  for  disabled  and  retired  policemen  in  the  city 
of  Brooklyn  was  passed,  constituting  the  Board  of  Po- 
lice and  Excise  and  the  Ccmmissioners  of  the  Sinking 
Fund  a  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  pension  fund ;  and  giv- 
ing them  the  power  to  choose  one  of  their  number  as 
chairman  and  of  appointing  a  secretary.  The  Treasurer 
of  the  Police  and  Excise  was  to  be  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees;  said  Board  of  Trustees  to  havecha:ge 
of  and  administer  said  fund,  and  from  time  to  time  to 
invest  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof,  as  they  shall  deem 
beneficial  to  said  fund.  They  also  have  the  pow  er  to 
make  all  necessary  contracts,  and  to  make  payments  of 
said  fund  of  pensions  granted  in  pursuance  of  the  act  of 
June  15th,  1877.  The  Board  of  Trustees  are  the  legal 
successors  of  the  Trustee  or  Trustees  of  the 
Police     Life     Insurance     Fund     then     in  exist- 


500 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


ence.  The  Boai'd  of  Trustees  have  the  power 
of  estabhshing,  from  time  to  time,  such  rules  and  regu- 
lations of  the  Police  Pension  Fund  as  they  may  deem 
best,  and  are  compelled  to  report  in  detail  to  the  Com- 
mon Council  of  the  city  annually,  in  the  month  of  Jan- 
uary, the  condition  of  the  fund  with  the  items  of  their 
receipts  and  disLuisements  on  account  of  the  same.  No 
payment  whatever  is  allowed  by  said  Trustees  as  reward, 
gratuity  or  compensation  to  any  person  for  salary  or 
services  rendered,  or  for  said  Board.  The  Pension  Fund 
consists  of  : 

First.-  The  capital,  income,  interest,  dividends,  such 
deposits,  secureties  and  credits  then  belonging  to  the 
Police  Life  Insurance  Fund,  with  the  addition  thereto 
from  time  to  time  of 

Second. — Ten  per  centum  of  all  moneys  paid  into  the 
Bureau  of  Excise  for  licenses. 

TJiird. — All  fines  imposed  by  the  Board  of  Police  and 
Excise  upon  members  of  the  police  force  ;  and 

Fourth.— All  rewards,  fees,  gifts,  testimonials  and 
emoluments  that  may  be  presented,  paid  or  given  to  any 
member  of  the  police  force  on  account  of  police  services, 
except  such  as  shall  be  allowed  by  the  Board  of  Police 
and  Excise  to  be  retained  by  such  member  ;  and, 

Fifth. — All  lost  or  stolen  moneys  remaining  in  the 
house  of  the  Property  Clerk  for  the  space  of  one  year, 
and  for  which  there  shall  be  no  lawful  claimant,  and 
moneys  arising  from  the  sale  of  unclaimed  property;  an"d. 

Sixth. — A  sum  of  money  equal  to  fifty  cents  per  month 
for  each  member  of  the  police  force  and  attache  of  the 
police  department,  to  be  paid  monthly  by  the  Comp- 
troller of  the  city  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Pen- 


Brooklyn's  guardians. 


601 


sion  Fund,  from  moneys  deducted  from  the  pay  of  mem 
bers  and  attaches  of  said  force  on  account  of  lost  time. 

Seventh. — The  sum  of  three  dollars  per  day,  or  for  any 
portion  of  a  day,  for  each  member  of  the  police  force  or 
attache  of  the  police  department  whose  services  may  be 
required  by  any  corporation,  association,  person  or  per- 
sons whatsoever,  for  the  performance  of  any  police  duty 
(except  in  criminal  cases)  outside  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn, 
which  sum,  in  each  and  every  case,  shall  be  paid  to  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Police  and  Excise  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  Pension  Fund.  The  Board  of  Estimate  of  the 
city  is  authorized  and  directed  by  resolution  of  said  board 
to  appropriate  from  the  excise  moneys  derived  by  the 
Board  of  Police  and  Excise  from  licenses  for  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors  ten  per  centum  of  the  moneys  so 
derived,  and  the  Comptroller  shall  draw  his  warrant  in 
favor  of  the  trustees  of  said  Pension  Fund,  and  the 
Treasurer  of  the  city  shall  pay  said  warrants  out  of  the 
moneys  received  from  said  licenses. 

The  Board  of  Police  and  Excise  have  the  power  to  grant 
pensions  to  any  member  of  the  poKce  force  or  attache 
of  the  pohce  department  from  moneys  from  the  Pension 
Fund,  to  be  paid  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  as  follows  : 

(1.)  To  the  ^\ddow  of  any  member  of  the  police  force 
or  attache  of  the  department  who  shall  have  been  killed 
while  in  actual  performance  of  police  duty,  or  shall  have 
died  from  the  effects  of  any  injuries  received  whilst  in  the 
actual  discharge  of  such  duty,  or  who  has  died  after  ten 
(10)  years'  service  in  the  police  department,  provided  such 
death  shall  not  have  been  caused  by  misconduct  on  his 
part,  a  sum  not  to  exceed  three  hundred  (S300)  dollars 
per  annum. 


BROOKLYX'S  GUARDIANS. 


(2.)  To  any  child  or  children  under  eighteen  years  of 
age  of  such  in  ember  of  the  police  force,  killed  or  dying 
as  aforesaid,  but  leaving  no  widow ;  if  a  widow,  then 
after  her  death,  to  such  child  or  children  being  yet 
under  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  sujh  pension  as  the 
Board  of  Pension  and  Excise  shall  from  time  to  time 
award  and  order,  not  to  exceed  three  hundred  dollars  per 
annum. 

(3.)  To  any  such  member  of  the  police  force  or 
attache  of  the  department,  who,  whilst  in  the  actual 
performance  of  police  duty,  and  by  reason  of  the  per- 
formance of  said  duty,  and  without  fault  and  miscon- 
duct on  his  part,  shall  have  become  permanently  dis- 
abled, physically  or  mentally,  so  as  to  be  unfitted  to  per- 
form full  police  duty,  a  sum  not  to  exceed  three  hundred 
dollars  per  annum. 

(4. )  To  any  member  of  the  police  force  or  attache  of 
the  department  who  shall,  after  ten  years'  membership, 
become  superannuated  by  age  or  rendered  incapable  of 
performing  full  police  duty  by  reason  of  disability  or  dis- 
ease contracted  without  misconduct  on  his  part,  a  sum 
not  to  exceed  three  hundred  dollars. 

(5.)  To  any  such  member  of  the  police  force  or  attache 
of  the  department  who  shall,  after  fifteen  years'  mem- 
bership, become  superannuated  by  age  or  rendered  incap- 
able of  performing  full  police  duty  by  reason  of  disabil- 
ity or  disease,  four  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 

(6.)  Any  member  of  the  force  or  attache  of  the 
department  who  has  or  who  shall  have  performed  police 
duty  for  a  period  of  twenty  years  or  upwards  shall,  upon 
his  own  application  in  writing,  be  retired  from  service 
and  placed  on  the  police  pension  roll,  and  thereupon 


Brooklyn's  guardIxVns. 


shall  be  awarded,  granted  and  paid  from  said  Folic  - 
Pension  Fund,  by  the  trustees  thereof,  an  annual  sum 
during  his  lifetime  equal  to  one-half  the  full  pay  of  a 
member  of  said  police  foice  of  the  rank  of  the  member 
so  retired,  provided,  however,  that  no  i)ension  so  granted 
shall  exceed  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

(7.)  In  every  case  mentioned  in  sub-divisions  three, 
four  and  five  of  section  four  of  this  act,  the  Board  of 
Police  and  Excise  shall  determine  the  circumstances 
thereof  in  its  discretion,  and  may  order  the  retirement 
from  service  and  payment  of  the  pensions  mention' :d  in 
this  act,  but  only  after  the  certificates  and  recommenda- 
tions of  the  surgeons  in  writing  shall  be  on  file,  as  re- 
quired by  the  provisions  of  this  act,  under  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  they  may  prescribe,  but  all  payments  on 
account  of  said  Police  Pension  Fund  shall  be  made  quar- 
terly, by  check  or  draft  upon  the  trustees  of  said  sum, 
signed  as  said  trustees  may  direct. 

Pensions  to  wi  lows  shall  terminate  when  the  widow 
shall  re-marry  ;  and  pensions  to  childrei:  shall  terminate 
whenever  the  children  shall  respectively  arrive  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years.  The  Board  of  Police  and  Excise 
may,  in  its  discretion,  order  any  pensions  granted  or  any 
part  thereof  to  cease,  except  to  members  of  the  police  force 
or  attaches  retired  after  twenty  years'  service,  as  pro- 
vided in  section  five  of  the  act,  but  in  all  such  cases  the 
said  Board  of  Police  and  Excise  shall  file  with  the  trus- 
tees^of  the  police  pension  fund  a  written  statement  of 
the  cause  which  determined  them  in  ordering  such  pen- 
sion to  cease,  and  nothing  herein  or  in  any  other  act 
contained  shall  render  the  granting  or  payment  of  such 
pension  obligatory  on  the  Board  of  Police  and  Excise,  or 


504 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


upon  the  trustees  of  the  pohce  pension  fund,  or  charge- 
able as  a  matter  of  right  upon  said  pohce  pension  fund, 
except  as  provided  in  section  five  of  this  act. 

In  determining  the  term  of  service  of  any  member  of 
the  pohce  force,  or  attache  of  the  pohce  department, 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  service  in  the  late  Metro- 
politan police  department,  and  subsequently  in  the  police 
department  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  shall  be  counted  and 
held  to  be  police  service  in  the  police  department  of  the 
city  of  Brooklyn  for  all  the  purposes  of  the  act. 

No  member  of  the  police  force  or  attache  of  the  ])olice 
department,  shall  be  awarded,  granted  or  paid  a  pension 
on  account  of  physical  or  mental  disabihty  or  disease, 
unless  upon  the  certificate  and  recommendation  of  the 
Board  of  Surgeons  of  the  Department  of  Police  aLd  Ex- 
cise, which  shall  set  forth  in  detail  the  cause,  nature  and 
extent  of  the  disability,  disease  or  injury  of  each  mem- 
ber of  the  police  force,  or  attache  of  said  police  depart- 
ment who  may  be  placed  upon  the  pension  roh,  and  said 
certificate  shall  distinctly  state  whether  or  not  such  dis- 
ability, disease  or  injury  was  incurred  or  sustained  by 
said  member  of  the  pohce  force  or  attache  in  the  per- 
formance of  police  duty  and  without  misconduct  on  his 
part,  and  such  certificate  shall  in  each  case  be  filed  with 
and  entered  upon  the  minutes  of  the  trustees  of  the  Po- 
lice Pension  Fund. 

An  act  to  amend  chapter  four  hundred  and  thirty-eight 
of  the  laws  of  1877,  entitled  '^an  act  to  create  a  pxAice 
pension  fund  for  disabled  and  retired  policemen  in  the 
city  of  Brooklyn,"  was  passed  June  14,  1886,  and  was 
amended  so  as  to  read  as  f ohows : 

The  police  pension  fund  shall  consist  of. 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


505 


First. — The  capital,  income,  interest,  dividends,  cash, 
deposits,  securities  and  credits,  now  belonging  to  said 
police  life  insurance  fund  with  the  addition  thereto,  from 
time  to  time,  of 

Second. — Twenty  per  centum  of  all  moneys  paid  into 
the  treasury  of  excise  for  licenses. 

TJiird. — All  fines  imposed  by  the  Commissioners  of 
Police  and  Excise  upon  the  members  of  the  pohce  force, 
and 

Fourth. — All  rewards,  gifts,  fees,  testimonials  and 
emoluments  that  may  be  presented,  paid  or  given  to 
any  member  of  the  police  on  account  of  police  service, 
except  such  as  shall  be  allowed  by  the  Commissioner  of 
Police  and  Exci  e  to  be  retained  by  said  members,  and 

FiftJi. — All  lost  or  stolen  moneys  remaining  in  the 
hands  of  the  property  clerk  for  the  space  of  one  year, 
and  for  which  there  shall  be  no  lawful  claimant,  and 
moneys  arising  from  the  sale  by  said  property  clerk  of 
unclaimed  property  :  and, 

Si.vth.  —  A  sum  of  money  equal  to  tifty  cents  per 
month  for  each  member  of  the  police  force  and  attache 
of  the  police  de  artment,  to  be  paid  monthly  by  the 
comptroller  of  the  city  to  the  treasurer  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  police  pension  fund  from  money  deducted 
from  the  pay  of  members  and  attaches  of  said  force  on 
account  of  lost  time  : 

SeveiitJi.  -The  sum  of  three  dollars  per  day,  or  for  any 
portion  of  a  day,  for  each  member  of  the  police  force  or 
attache  of  the  police  department,  whose  services  may  be 
required  by  any  corporation,  association,  person  or  per- 
sons, whatever,  for  performance  of  any  police  duty  (ex- 
cept in  criminal  cases)  outside  of  the  city  of  Bi-cM^klyn, 


506 


buooklyn's  guardians. 


which  sum  in  each  and  every  case  shall  be  paid  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  police  pension 
fund  for  the  benefit  of  said  fund.  The  Board  of  Esti- 
mates of  the  city  of  Brooklyn  is  authorized  and  directed 
from  time  to  time,  by  resolution  of  said  board,  to  ap- 
propriate from  the  excise  moneys  derived  by  the  Com- 
missioners of  Excise  from  licenses'  for  the  sale  of  intoxi- 
cating liquors,  twenty  per  centum  of  the  moneys  so 
derived,  and  the  comptroller  of  said  city  shall  draw  his 
warrant  in  favor  of  the  trustees  of  said  pension  fund, 
and  the  treasurer  of  said  city  shall  pay  such  warrants 
out  of  the  said  moneys  received  for  said  licenses. 

Eighth. — A  sum  of  money,  equal  to,  but  not  greater 
than  one  per  centum  of  the  monthly  pay,  salary  or  com- 
pensation of  each  member  of  the  police  force,  to  be  de- 
duct ed  monthly  by  the  comptroller  of  the  city  from  the 
pay,  salary  or  compensation  of  each  and  every  metnber 
of  the  police  force,  and  the  said  comptroller  is  authorized, 
empowered  and  directed  to  deduct  said  sum  of  money  as 
aforesaid  and  forthwith  to  pay  the  same  to  the  treas- 
urer of  the  police  pension  fund;  provided,  however, 
that  any  attache  of  the  said  police  department,  who,  at 
the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  act,  shall  have  served 
seven  years  and  upwards  upon  the  said  police  force  shall 
be  entitled  to  the  benefits  of  the  provisions  of  this  act 
upon  payment  by  him  of  a  sum  of  money  equal  to  one 
per  centum  of  the  monthly  pay,  salary  or  compensation 
of  the  said  attache,  as  hereinafter  provided  for  in  the 
case  of  members  of  the  police  force.  All  the  moneys  de- 
rived from  sources  mentioned  in  this  section  shall  be  paid 
over  by  the  ofiicers  and  persons  having  the  collection  or 
custody  of  the  same  to  the  trustees  of  the  said  police 


brooklYin's  guardians. 


507 


pension  fund,  and  shall  belong  to  and  be  invested  as 
portions  of  said  fund. 

Section  5  of  the  Act  of  1877  is  amended  to  read  as 
follows: 

Any  such  member  of  the  police  force  or  attache  of 
said  police  department  who  has  or  shall  have  performed 
police  duty  for  a  period  of  twenty  years  or  upwards  shall, 
upon  his  own  application  in  writing  be  retired  from 
service  and  placed  upon  the  police  pension  roll,  and 
thereupon  shall  be  awarded,  granted  and  paid  from  said 
police  Pension  Fund  by  the  trustees  thereof  an  annual 
sum  during  his  lifetime  equal  to  one-half  the  full  pay 
of  a  member  of  said  police  force  of  the  rank  of  the  mem- 
bers so  retired,  provided  that  in  the  case  of  an  attache 
of  said  police  department  he  shall  have  served  for  not 
less  than  seven  years  as  a  member  of  the  police  force  of 
said  department,  to  entitle  him  to  the  benefit  of  the  pro- 
visions of  this  section.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  incon- 
sistent with  the  provisions  of  this  a  t  are  hereby  re- 
pealed.   This  act  to  take  effect  immediately. 

The  following  is  a  resume  of  the  last  report  presented 
by  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  the  Common  Council : 

Receipts. 


Cash  balance  January  1st,  1886  $29,105  89 

Fines  and  lost  time   2,065  08 

Percentage  of  rewards,  etc   96  91 

Contributions  ,   3,125  00 

Sale  of  unclaimed  property   387  16 

Justice  Walsh  under  chapter  577   50  00 

Twenty  per  cent,  of  Excise  fees   56,075  0:» 

Interest  on  bonds  and  deposits   1,351  77 

$92,256  81 

Disbursements. 

For  pensions  $51,415  26 

Cash  balance  November  30th,  1886  -   40,841  55 


Total  $92,256  81 


508  BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 

This  year  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  giving  fifty 
per  cent,  of  the  dog  t  ;x  to  the  Pension  Fund.  The  dog 
tax  amounts  to  $2.50  for  each  dog,  to  be  paid  by  the 
owner  of  said  dog,  and  as  there  are  about  ten  thousand 
dogs  in  the  city,  makes  the  full  tax  about  $25,000,  half  of 
which,  $12,500,  will  this  year  go  in  to  the  Pension  Fund. 
The  fund  now  has  on  its  roll  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
pensioners. 

POLICE  MATRONS. 

A  new  special  feature  of  the  department  has  just  come 
into  force,  which  will  commend  itself  to  every  one.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  on  May  2tl:th,  1887, 
the  Committee  on  Police  and  Excise  reported  resolutions 
appointing  a  number  of  Police  Matrons. 

The  committee  in  its  report  said  that :  '  'A  committee  of 
the  Kings  County  Woman's  Association  appeared  before 
your  committee  and  stated  that  women  and  girls  are 
brought  into  court  ( harged  with  crimes  of  which  they 
are  innocent.  As  one  case  recited  before  your  commit- 
tee :  That  a  young  girl  was  arrested  and  charged  with 
the  crime  of  larceny.  The  case  was  investigated  by  the 
then  Matron.  It  was  found  that  the  girl  was  innocent, 
and  that  the  charge  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  pre- 
venting her  leaving  the  family  where  she  was  employed. 
The  Police  Matron  system  was  adopted  in  Portland,  and 
subsequently  in  Boston  and  Philadelphia,  and  is  now  in 
successful  operation,  and  a  large  number  of  women  who 
are  now  leading  lives  of  purity  and  usefulness  have  been 
saved  from  prison  by  this  method.  Your  committe  j  are 
of  the  opinion  that  justice  and  common  decency  de- 
manded that  the  women  and  girls  brought  into  court 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


500 


(many  for  the  first  time)  charged  witli  misdemeanors, 
should  have  the  presence  and  assistance  of  a  person  of 
their  own  sex,  in  an  official  capacity,  to  whom  they  can 
tm'n.-'    The  committee  also  reported  the  following  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Comptroller  be,  and  he  is  hereby 
authorized  and  directed,  to  set  aside  the  sum  of  s-l-,55(i 
from  the  contingent  fund  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the 
salaries  of  the  said  Matrons  for  the  year  1887. 

Resolved  That  the  Board  of  Estimate  be  requested  to 
appropriate  the  sum  of  $11,400  in  the  budget  for  the  year 
1888,  to  provide  for  the  appointment  of  the  Matrons  at 
each  of  the  police  precinct  stations. 

Little  wanderers,  who  have  toddled  away  from  home 
in  the  wake  of  a  procession,  or  a  hand-organ,  and  lost 
sight  of  familiar  objects,  are  picked  up  by  the  police 
every  day  and  come  under  the  care  of  these  matrons. 
They  seldom  know  where  they  live,  and  frequently 
a  youngster,  just  big  enough  to  go  alone,  is  found 
two  or  three  miles  away  from  home,  having  escaped 
the  dangers  of  street  crossings  and  car  tracks  in  some 
unn accountable  way.  When  the  distracted  mother 
comes,  there  is  a  scene.  It  is  almost  a  waste  of  breath  to 
tell  her  that  the  child  will  be  brought  in  before  night. 
She  knows  that  he  has  been  run  over,  has  fallen  into  the 
river,  or  has  been  kidnapped.  It  is  the  settled  conviction  of 
the  mothers  that  there  are  bad  people  who  do  nothing  but 
prowl  about  the  streets,  looking  for  a  chance  to  steal  stray 
children.  It  never  occurs  to  her  that  it  must  be  some  ex- 
traordinary purpose  that  would  induce  a  bad  man  to 
burden  himself  with  thirty  or  forty  pounds  of  helpless 
humanity,  given  over  to  habits  of  kicking,  squalling,  and 
being  hungry.    She  wants  the  whole  detective  force 


510 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


turned  out  at  once,  the  hospitals  searched  and  the  rivers 
dragged  from  Harlem  to  the  Battery. 

A  woman  comes  in,  nearly  a  lunatic  from  anxiety  and 
fear,  and  clamors  for  her  Jamesy."  Jamesy  was  the 
darlinest  bit  av  a  kid  iver  was  born.  Sorra  a  wan  av 
'em  on  the  street  was  the  good  av  his  little  finger.  And 
sure  he  was  drowned." 

What  was  he  like  ? 

^'  Sure  hadn't  she  been  tellin'  yez  ?  Like  !  Like  !  why, 
mam,  he  was  like  the  sunshine  that  comes  in  the  windy. 
And  some  villain  of  a  thafe  had  stolen  him.  Look  like, 
is  it  ?  Dade,  and  he  was  the  picture  of  his  father.  Two 
boys  niver  looked  more  like  the  wan  than  Jamesy  an' 
the  ould  man."  The  door  had  just  closed,  when  a  shrill 
cry  of  joy  was  heard  outside.  At  the  foot  of  the  steps 
the  mother  had  met  a  policeman,  leading  by  the  hand  a 
very  small  bit  of  a  boy  vnth  aggressively  red  hair,  and  a 
face  upon  which  a  thick  coat  of  dirt  vainly  essayed  to 
extinguish  a  vigorous  crop  of  freckles.  The  boy  was 
Jamesy.  The  mother  swooped  down  upon  him  and 
snatched  him  up  before  the  surprised  policeman  knew 
what  had  happened,  and  she  was  bolting  for  home  cry- 
ing and  laughing  in  one  breath,  and  scolding  and  kissing 
indiscriminately,  when  the  policeman  seized  her  by  the 
arm.  He  had  to  make  a  report  of  the  case  to  the  ser- 
geant, but  she  knew  nothing  of  that.  She  had  found 
Jamesy,  and  that  was  enough. 

What  more  had  the  police  to  do  with  it  ? 

''Now,  ye'llnot  have  him!  Ye'U  not  be  puttin'  me 
Jamesy  in  jail  bekase  he  wint  around  the  corner  a  bit. 
He  niver  done  no  harm.  Sure,  I'll  larrup  him  myself, 
an'  his  father  '11  skin  him  alive  for  skippin'  about  the 


BROOKLVW'rt  GL  AKDlANS. 


511 


street  an'  giving  ye  all  the  bother.  But  ye'll  not  take 
up  Jamesy,  the  hit  child  as  manes  no  wrong,  will  ye 
now  V 

At  last  she  is  persuaded  to  hring  the  child  in  and  wait 
for  the  record  to  he  made,  never  letting  the  unperturbed 
youngster  out  of  her  arms. 

CIVIL  SERVICE  REFORM. 

Eeaders  of  this  volume  will  have  noticed  many  in- 
stances in  the  biographical  portion  of  officers  who  have 
obtained  promotion  under  civil  service  rules.  The  system 
of  civil  service  examination  is  undoubtedly  of  the 
greatest  benefit  in  handling  any  large  body  of  the  public 
servants.  In  the  first  place,  applicants  for  positions  on 
the  force  must  be  men  of  reasonable  mental  attainments, 
as  well  as  of  the  necessary  physical  requirements.  Under 
the  old  hap-hazard  system,  it  was  quite  possible  for  men 
of  a  certain  height  and  certain  strength  to  be  imposed 
upon  the  force  despite  the  fact  that  they  might  be  utterly 
incapable  of  coming  up  to  a  fair  average  standard  of 
abihty  and  judgment.  This  the  new  method  does  away 
with  entirely,  and  the  average  intelligence  of  a  Brooklyn 
policeman  to-day  compares  favorably  with  the  average 
intelligence  of  any  like  number  of  men  engaged  in  com- 
mercial pursuits.  But  what  the  citizens  of  Brooklyn 
will  most  appreciate  is  that  civil  service  divorces  the 
police  from  politics.  At  present,  for  example,  while  the 
head  of  the  department  is  naturally  a  Democrat,  having 
been  appointed  by,  and  being  responsible  to,  a  Demo- 
cratic Mayor,  yet  many  of  his  aides  and  many  of  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  force  are  Eepublicans,  and  hold  their 
positions  because  they  have  proven  themselves  capable 


51-  Brooklyn's  guardians, 

of  filling  them  acceptably.  This  is  as  it  should  be,  for  if 
politics  should  be  divorced  from  anything,  certainly  they 
should  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  vast  machinery  that 
regulates  public  order.  Strict  impartiality  and  absolute 
neutrality  on  the  part  of  the  police  are  imperatively 
necessary  in  communities  which  exercise  the  right  of 
manhood  suffrage  at  the  polls;  for  every  citizen,  what- 
ever his  political  persuasion  may  be,  whether  he  call 
himself  Democrat,  Republican,  Prohibitionist,  or  what- 
not, should  always  be  able  to  know  that  he  has  a  clear 
and  untrammelled  right  to  walk  to  the  polling  booth  and 
deposit  his  vote  under  the  protection  of  the  preservers  of 
the  peace.  Brooklyn  is  so  pre-eminently  one  of  the 
birthplaces  of  new  and  advanced  political  ideas  that  its 
citizens  should  and  do  take  a  deep  interest  in  watching 
the  development  of  anything  that  tends  to  purify  the 
administration  of  public  affairs. 

Civil  Service  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant steps  taken  since  the  v\  ar  to  purify  the  political 
atmosphere,  and  its  strictest  enforcement  will  undoubt- 
edly command  the  support  of  Brooklyn's  citizens  at  all 
times.  Indeed,  it  may  be  said  that  a  Brooklynito  cares 
little  whether  his  mayor  or  police  commissioner  be 
Democrat  or  Republican,  provided  he  honestly  f  .ilfils  the 
duties  of  his  office,  with  a  view  to  the  public  welfare  and 
in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  good  municipal  govern- 
ment. Under  the  eyes  of  enlightened  public  sentiment 
no  municipal  officer  of  Brooklyn  would  dare  attempt  to 
make  his  office  a  mere  appendage  to  partisan  leaders, 
for  he  would  know  well  that  swift  and  crushing  rebuke 
would  come  to  him  from  the  citizens  at  the  polls. 

It  is,  perhaps,  unfortunate  that  our  city  politics  are  so 


^  BROOKLYX'8  GUARDIANS.  .M3 

inextricably  woven  Avith  our  national  politics  that  they 
can  never  be  entirely  separated  ;  but  probably  this  can 
never  be  wholly  remedied,  at  least  so  long  as  the  great 
parties  preserve  their  present  minute  local  organization. 
Granted  this,  it  is  indeed  gratifying  to  find  that  the  good 
features  of  both  local  and  national  government  re-act  on 
each  other  ;  and  the  gradual  growth  and  strength  of 
national  civil  service  reform  is  having  its  effect  upon 
municipal  government  with  a  very  great  impulse. 

But  lovers  of  American  institutions  can  certainly  pride 
themselves  upon  the  constantly  increasing  betterment  of 
the  conduct  of  our  government,  for  certainly  the  pres- 
ent generation  enjoys  an  infinitely  purer  administration 
of  affairs  than  did  the  last.  Twenty -five  years  ago  the 
idea  seldom,  if  ever,  occurred  to  any  one  that  a  public 
officer  should  be  appointed  simply  because  of  his  merits. 
Offices  were  looked  upon  as  the  spoils  of  the  victor,  and 
parcelled  out  without  question  or  criticism  among  the 
successful  gladiators  in  the  political  arena.  Every  dis- 
tinguished politician  had  his  troop  of  henchmen,  who 
expected  to  be,  and  naturally  were,  quartered  upon  the 
public  treasury  and  supported  by  the  public,  not  prim- 
arily for  performing  the  duties  of  their  office,  l)ut  for  the 
support  and  maintenance  of  the  political  chieftain's 
power. 

That  this  has  not  wholly  passed  away  is  true.  That 
a  certain  section  of  our  citizens  still,  from  the  force  of 
habit,  believe  in  such  notions,  is  likewise  true.  But  the 
number  is  growing  smaller  and  smaller  every  year,  and 
it  is  to  be  hoped  will  grow  smaller  and  smaller  yet. 
Absolute  perfection  in  the  public  service  cannot,  of 
course,  be  hoped  forthio  side  of  the  millenium,  but  it  can 


514. 


BKO()KI.^  k'h  guardians. 


be  reasonably  approached ;  and  it  is  with  a  just  pride 
that  the  citizens  of  Brooklyn  can  declare  that  their  city 
is  in  the  front  rank  with  the  most  advanced  and  enlight- 
ened communities. 

POLICE  PARADE. 

On  Tuesday,  May  18,  188T,  at  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  five  hundred  and  fifty  uniformed  men  and  of- 
ficers of  the  Brooklyn  Police  force  formed  in  line  at  the 
fountain  on  Bedford  Avenue.  1 1  was  the  occasion  of  the 
ilrst  annual  parade  of  the  Brooklyn  Police  Department. 
Just  prior  to  the  word  to  march  everything  was  in  con- 
fusion, policemen  seemed  to  be  everywhere,  hurrying, 
scurrying  here  and  there  in  the  hot  broiling  sun.  Stran- 
gers in  town  would  have  no  doubt  mistaken  it  for  some 
riot,  which  the  entire  force  of  the  city  had  been  called 
upon  to  quell.  Tu  a  person  who  lived  in  the  city,  how- 
ever, the  burnished  helmets,  polished  buttons  and  clean 
uniforms  told  a  different  tale.  They  were  no  war  or 
riot  uniforms.  Far  from  it.  And  right  here  it  may  be 
as  well  to  remark  that  great  attention  is  paid  by  the 
d  apartment  to  the  uniforms  of  the  men — the  best  and 
most  suitable  cloth  being  selected — and  certainly  no 
body  of  ' '  blues "  looked  handsomer  than  Brooklyn's 
"  finest "  upon  this  occasion. 

Shortly  after  two  p.  ni.,  the  word  to  march  was  given. 
As  if  by  magic  all  noise  ceased.  The  men  were  all  hi 
line,  and  had  started  before  many  of  the  spectators  who 
had  left  their  points  of  vantage  could  regain  them.  In 
the  van  was  the  mounted  squad  under  the  command 
of  Sergeant  Johnson.     His  men  all  well-built,  well- 


BROOKLYN'S  GUARDIANS. 


515 


drilled  and  nearly  all  of  whom  had  seen  service  in  the 
cavalry  during  the  civil  war,  presented  a  magnificent  and 
imposing  appearance.  Their  horses,  with  glossy  hides 
and  well  cunibed  manes,  answering  to  a  touch  of  the 
knee,  resembled  pieces  of  mechanism.  They,  too,  looked 
like  their  riders—  splendid — and  seemed  to  appreciate  the 
thunders  of  applause  from  the  excited  and  admiring 
host  of  spectators  who  thronged  each  side  of  the  street. 
Following  them  came  the  drum  corps  of  the  Ninth  Eeg- 
iment,  N.  Y.  S.  N.  G.,  with  Conterno  at  the  head,  and  di- 
rec'Jy  behind,  Superintendent  Campbell  in  all  the  glory 
of  a  bran  new  uniform,  looking  hale  and  hearty  and 
every  inch  a  policeman.  At  his  side,  made  fast  by  a 
many  colored  cord,  was  a  club,  also  bran  new.  By  his 
side  marched  Inspector  Reilly,  tjie  head  of  the  detective 
force  of  this  city.  After  them  came  the  550  men.  They 
were  divided  into  two  battalions  of  nine  companies  each, 
with  fourteen  files  full.  Inspector  McLaughlin  was  at 
the  head  of  the  first,  and  in  command  of  the  companies 
were  Captains  McKelvey,  Campbell,  Leavey,  Ennis, 
Murphy,  Brown,  Folk,  Dunn  and  Brennan.  The  second 
battallion  was  under  the  command  of  Inspector  Mac- 
kellar,  the  senior  inspector,  and,  acting  as  his  aides  in 
command  of  the  rear  nine  companies,  Captains  Jewett, 
Lowery,  Rhodes,  Druhan,  Kaiser,  Eason,  French,  Kel- 
lett  and  Kenney.  The  only  captain  not  on  i)arade  was 
Captain  Woglom,  of  the  Fifth  Precinct,  for  whom  a  walk 
of  six  miles  was  physically  impossible.  He  was  put  on 
duty  at  headquarters,  and  did  all  that  the  superintendent 
usually  does  when  there.  The  colors  carried  were  the 
beautiful  flags  presented  by  Messrs.  Wechsler  &  Abra- 
ham, several  smaller  flags,  and  a  city  flag,  presented  by 


516 


BROOKLY^'S  GUARDIANS. 


Commissioner  Carroll.  The  men  wore  for  the  fnst  time 
the  new  summer  helmets,  and  every  uniform  was  ad- 
justed so  carefully  that  even  the  eagle  eye  of  the 
inspector  could  find  no  flaw  or  spot.  The  route 
was  from  the  fountain  through  Bedford  Avenue  to  La- 
fayette, through  Lafayette  to  Schermerhorn  Street,  to 
Clinton,  through  Clinton  to  Eemsen,  and  through  Eem- 
sen  to  the  City  Hall,  where  they  were  reviewed  by  Mayor 
Whitney,  Commissioner  Carroll  and  Deputy  Commis- 
sioner Dallon,  who  expressed  themselves  as  extremely 
gratified  at  the  display.  No  doubt  the  citizens  felt  so 
too,  to  think  that  such  an  imposing  and  efficient  force 
guarded  their  interests.  After  passing  the  Hall  they 
marched  to  Gallatin  Place,  Fulton  Street,  where  they 
disbanded,  not  once  in  all  the  long,  hot,  six  mile  walk 
requning  the  use  of  the  patrol  wagon  or  ambulance 
which  accompanied  them.  Although  so  large  a  force 
was  taken  away,  all  the  posts  were  covered  as  usual,  254 
men  being  left  on  guard,  190  of  them  being  regulars  and 
the  remainder  being  called  m  from  detailed  positions. 

With  this  last  picture  of  Brooklyn's  Guardians  our 
record  comes  to  a  close.  Much  more  could  have  been 
written  if  space  allowed,  but  the  limits  of  this  volume 
are  reached  and  the  writer  must  lay  down  his  pen.  If 
he  shall  have  succeeded  in  bringing  somewhat  closer  to 
tiie  public  the  gallant  defenders  of  their  homes,  lives  and 
property,  his  task  will  have  been  a  pleasant  one,  and  his 
reward  will  be  the  consciousness  of  having  labored  in  a 
worthy  cause. 

It  is  also  his  hope  that  the  publication  of  a  work  like 
this  may  have  a  good  effect  upon  the  police  force  itself 
However  imperfec.ly  the  task  is  done,  yet  surely  it  wiix 


BROOKLYN'S  GUAKDIANS. 


517 


make  a  policeman  think  a  little  better  of  himself  to  find 
that  he  is  deemed  worthy  of  record  side  by  side  with 
other  public  officials.  May  it  not  arouse  a  laudable 
ambition  in  the  breast  of  every  member  of  the  depart- 
ment to  figure  in  future  histories  for  future  generations  ; 
to  know  that  a  gallant  deed  will  find  its  proper  applause, 
andthat  an  act  of  heroism  may  be  embalmed  in  imperish- 
able print.  It  is  always  well  to  do  one's  duty,  and  phil- 
osoi:)hers  tell  us  that  the  consciousness  of  having  so  done 
is  the  greatest  of  rewards;  but  there  is  a  natural  and 
proper  desire  on  the  part  of  every  man  to  hear  those 
grand  and  simple  words  :  Well  done,  good  and  faith- 
ful servant." 


JOHN  W.  FOWLER,  DANIEL  F.  LEWIS, 

President.  7  ^re  a  surer. 

THE  LEWIS^*° FOWLER 

MANUFACTURING  CO., 
27,  29,  31,  33  &  35  WALWORTH  ST., 

Bet.  Park  and  Flushing  Ave.,  BROOKLYN. 


OF    EVERY  DESCRIPTION. 


R.  R.  Castings  and  Supplies 

 A  SrECIALTY,  


CONTINENTAL  MORKS 

(Ne;ir  V.th  and  23d  Street  Ferries. ) 

BROOKLYN,  (Greenpoint,)  NEW  YORK. 
THOMAS  F.  ROWLAND,  rresidm^. 
(Jas  plaint  of  eu(^ry  deseriptioi^.   Iro9  ai^d  St(^(^l  l/(^5sels. 

Plans,  Specifications  and  Estimates  furnished  for  every 
description  of  Engineering  Work. 


ICsta"blislie(i   15  Years. 


Roebuck's  Wire  Screens  and  Weather  Strip. 


Exclude  Cold, 
I  Vind,  Snow 
and  Dust. 


WIRE 
SCREENS 


Fit  any  Window. 
[Also,  Screens  and 

Screen  Doors  to 
lorder.  Estimates 

given. 


pOEB  UCK's 

-WEATHER^ 
S  T  R  .1  P  S 

OOORS  &'WIND0WS 


AT  ROEBUCK'S  WEATHER  STRIP  DEPOT, 

164  Fulton  St,  near  Broadway,  New  York. 

BOONEKAMP  MAAGBITTER. 

The  ouly  genuine  is  the  original,  invented  in  1815  by  A.  E.  Boonekamp, 
at  Antwerp  Belgium, 

It  has  upheld  its  reputation  ever  since  as  a  sure  cure  for  Dyspepsia,  or  other  troubles  of 
the  stomach.    To  be  taken  in  water,  cordial  or  liquor. 

Where  quick  relief  becomes  imperative, 
in  such  cases  as  Cramps,  Dysent^-ry,  etc., 
It  shf)uld  be  taken  in  its  pn:e  state. 

The  market  is  flooded  with  all  kinds  of 
imitations,  some  imported  from  Germany, 
and  sold  under  the  name  of  Boonekamp,  of 
Maagbitter.  Only  the  original  carries  the 
seal  and  signature  of  the  inventor. 

'°'=T."^'a;d"'ca„ada.       AUGUST   IMMiG,  BROOKLYN. 

IS".  Y.  Ofiice,  5  ir  iiroaa  Street, 


THE   BELT   LINE  FIRE. 

Central  Park,  North  and  East  River  Railroad  Comvanv,  ioth  Av.,  53D  and  54TH  Sts. 

New  York,  June  3,  1887. 

Messrs.  Morris,  Little  &  Son,  Brooklyn,  N.  T.: 

Mv  Dear  Sir:  The  work  of  removing  the  eleven  hundred  and  sixty  burned  horses  from 
the  ruins  of  our  stables  at  54th  Street  and  loth  Avenue  having  been  completed,  we  wish  to 
express  to  you  our  thanks  for  the  prompt  and  efficient  aid  rendered  by  your  corps  of  men  in 
the  disinfecting  and  deodorizing  of  ourpiemises.  What  promised  under  the  hot  weather,  un- 
less soeedily  cared  for,  to  become  offensive  as  well  as  dangerous  was,  by  the  use  of  your  Solu- 
ble Phenvle,  rendered  harmless. 

Tiie  test  of  the  properties  of  the  compound  was  a  severe  one,  but  all  the  conditions  of  that 
test  were  fully  complied  with,  and  the  result  was  perfect  success.  We  had  used  the  Phenvlk 
in  our  stables  for  some  time,  and  had  found  it  valuable,  and  now  we  are  pleased  to  commend  it 
to  others.  We  can  highly  commend  it  as  a  disinfectant  and  deodorizer.  We  are  very  truly 
yours,  G.  HILTON  SCRIBNER,  President. 

Used  in  the  Police  and  Fire  Departments  of  Brooklyn 
and  other  large  cities.    Send  for  circulars. 

MORRIS,  LITTLE  &  SON,      1  73  North  1  Oth  St.,  Brooklyn,  E.  D. 


jLLSGOOD,  RASCH  &  CO., 
WHOLESALE  GROCERS, 

Jay,  corner  Sands,  St.,    -  Brooklyn 


J.   G.  HURLIMANN, 


MANUFACTfREK  OK 


RIBBONS,.-^ 

Nos.  235  to  245  Lyncli  St.,  Brooklyn,  E.  D. 

Salesrooms:   472-474  BROOME  STREET,      -      NEW  YORK. 


EXCELSIOR   ELECTRIC  CO., 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


ELECTRIC  LIGHT  MACHINES  AND  LAMPS, 

F*la.tiiig  and.  Refining  Xlacliines, 
FACTORY,  198  to  216  WTLLOUGHBY  ST.,  BROOKLYN. 
Office,  9  Dey  Street,       -        -         New  York. 

Wm.  Hochhausen,  Supt.  and  Electrician.  Geo.  D.  Allen,  Gen.  Manager. 

THE  H.  UNDERBERG-ALBRECHT 

Boonekamp  of  Maag-Bitter 

IS  IMPORTED  BY 

LUYTIES  BROTHERS, 

 )?>rEW  YORii:(  

None  genuine  without  the  neck-label  bearing  sis:nature  and  trads-mai  k  of  Lun  ties  Bros., 

New  Yo"rk. 


F.  W.  H.  Nelson.  ^\".  F.  H.  Nelson. 

NELSON  BROTHERS, 

wholesale  and  kktail  okalers  ln 

COAL  AND  WOOD, 

Main  Office  &  Yard  :  50s  to  5*24  Hamilton  Ave.,  near  Third  Ave. 
Wharf  and  Pockets:  Hamilton  Ave.,  Smith  St.,  and  Gowanns  Canal, 

Telephone  Call.  No.  803.       -         -        BROOKX-^YT^,  PC.  Y. 

LEHIGH  AND  RED  ASH  COALS  A  SPECIALTY. 


STHRIN'S 

City  and  River 

RANSPORTATION  CO. 


Freight  Forwarded  to  All  Parts  of  the  World. 


Principal  Office, 

PIER    18,    N^ORTH  RIVILR, 

GREENWICH  STONE  QUARRIEST 

MM.  H.  RITCH  St  SONS,  Proprietors. 

DEALERS  IN 

Building,  Foundation,  Pier  and  Under-Pinning  Stone 

OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION,  ALSO  CONCRETE  STONE. 

STONE  YARD,  FOOT  OF  TAYLOR  ST.,  BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 

Orders  received  at  Mechanics'  and  Traders'  Exchange,  14  Vesey  St.,  N.  Y.,  Box  192. 
Quarry  Address,  PORT  CHESTER,  N.  Y. 

NORMAN  HUBBARD,  ' 

SOLE  MANUFACTURER  OF  THE 

Improved  NIMMA  Steam  Pump. 

Engines,  Boilers  and  Machinery.    Pulleys,  Shafting  and  Hangers  a  Specialty. 
Hydraulic  Blowing  Engines  for  Church  Organs.  Hydraulic 
Elevators  for  Buildings. 

93       97  Pe^^i  St.,  Brooklyn,  Y, 


FREDERICK  W.  STARR, 

LUMBER  -^^ND  •  TIMBER, 

Yard,  Foot  of  i^tk  St.,  South  Brooklyn. 

.  Xeleplione  Call,  "  Brooklyn  435." 

PETER    TIMM'S  SOJST. 

281  to  285  North  Sixth  Street,  Brooklyn. 

Long  Island  Ice  &  Coal  Company. 

OFFICE  AND  DEPOT, 

Third  St.,  near  Third  Ave.,  Brooklyn. 

Best  quality  of  Coal  constantly  on  hand.    Orders  by  Post  or  Telephone  Promptly  aitendtd 
to.    Telephone  Call,  142  Brooklyn. 

^.  POLHEMUS  &  SON. 
LIDGERWOOD  MANUFACTURING  CO., 

ZMarLxifactiarers?  of 

Improved  Hoisting  Engines  and  Stationary  Engines, 

Also  makers  of  Superior  Stationary  and  Marine  Boilers 
for  all  purposes. 

Office  and  Salesroom,  96  Liberty  St.,  New  York. 
Works ^  Cor.  Dikeman,  Ferris  and  Partition  Sts. ,  Brooklyn. 

JOHN  BARNEY, 

—Dealer  in— 

Blue5t09e  of  fill  De5eriptioF}s, 

Sills,  Lintels,  Cirli,  Gutter,  Wimi,  etc.,  etc. 

Tard,  Comer  President  Street  S  Third  Av.,  BROOKLYN. 


^^^^  Brewed  b.r\\  bottled  by  _ 

5eadIeston-6c-WoerzT 

E^ra  291  WlOT'iSTraMEW  YORK^^miD 

Or^zr)  by  f^jf^,!  Cj^rd  proiwpfly  tMwd.zt.  fc.g^eKs) 
HANDREN  &  ROBINS' 

Erie  Basin  Dry  Docks, 

(Private  Wire  to   Dry  Docks.) 

AND  ALBANY  STREET  IRON  WORKS. 

SHIPYARD,  ENGINE  AND  BOILER  SHOPS, 

Erie  Basin,  South  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

IRON  WORKS,  MACHINE  AND  BOILER  SHOPS, 

Washington  Street,  N.  Y. 

STEAMSHIP  REPAIRS  A  SPECIALTY. 
Office,  126  Washington  St.,    NEW  YORK. 

(Telephione  42  K"ew.) 


GEORGE  MALCOM, 
Brewer  and  Maltster, 
EXTRA  FINE  CANADA  MALT  ALES  AND  PORTER, 

A.  G.  SCHOLKS, 

(Successor  and  Son  of  H.  B.  SCHOLES.) 

COAL  :  AND  :  WOOD, 

632  Kent  Avenue.    pt-,  qf  Rodney  St,     9^  Brooklyn, 
BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 

C^FIT^L.  $S00,000.00. 

New  ^  York  ^  Warehousing  Co., 

COTTON  STOB AGE,  Brooklyn, 

C.  K.  Wallace,  Sec.  &  Treas. ,  Ft  Van  Brunt  &  Conover  Sts. , 

OXNARD  BROS., 

Fulton  .'.  Sugar  .•.  Refinery, 

Cor.    Dock:    and.    Water  Streets. 

CHAS.  S.  HIGGINS  &  SON, 

LI  BELLE  BOUQUET  TOILET  SOAP, 

And  Other  Pure  Milled  Toilet  Soaps, 


H.  A.GRflEF'SSON 

40  COURT  ST 

Importer  of  Wines, 

ETC. 


Sole  Agent  for  United  States 
and  Canada,  of  the 

TIN  PES  PRINCES 

CHAMPAGNE, 

aud  Monogram  Cognac 


CROSS,  AUSTIN  &  CO. 

DEALERS  IN 

4(-LUmBE  R  i^ 

MOULDINGS,  BRACKETS,  Etc. 

Corner    Kent    Avenue    and    Cross  Street, 

BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

M.  CROSS.  S.   AUSTIN.  J,  H.  IRELAND. 

ESTABLISHED  1832. 

VALENTINE  &  COMPANY, 

MannfactuTers  of  High  Grade 

COACH  AND  CAR 

VARNISHES  &  COLORS 

245  Broadway,  New  York. 


68  LAKE  STREET, 

Chicago. 


153  milk  street 
Boston. 


21  rue  de  lappe, 
Paris. 


ESTABLISHED  1830. 


WILLIAM  WALL'S  SONS, 

]\Ianuf  acturers  of  all  kinds  of 

ROPE,  DRILLING  CABLES 

AND  TORPEDO  LINES. 
For   OIL    WELLS  a  Specialty- 

(Any  length  required  up  to  3,500  feet.) 

Coarse,  Medinm  and  Fine  Lath  Yarn  and  Bailing  Ropes, 

ITALIAN,  RUSSIAN,  AMERICAN  AND  JUTE  PACKING, 

Office.  1 13  Wall  St..       Warehouse.  56  &  57  South  St 

YORK,  Y. 


MOLLER,  SIERCK  &  CO., 

SUGAR  REFINERS, 

502  Kent  Avenue,  Brooklyn. 
Office,  90  WALL  STREET.  N.  Y.  CITY. 


C.  G.  COVERT'S  SONS, 

DEALERS  IN 

LUMBER  and  TIMBER, 

PLHNING   HND   SHW  MILLS, 

Jniictioii  of  Granil  Street  and  Metroplitau  Ayeime, 

AND  CORNER  SCHENCK  AND  ATLANTIC  AVENUES. 

Brooklyn  City  Railroad  Co. 

OFFICES,  8  S  10  FULTON  STREET. 

H.  M.  THOMPSON,  Secretary.  DANIEL  F.  LEWIS,  President, 


Greenpoint.       Greenpoint  via  Franklin  St  ,  First  St.,  Classon  and  Myrtle 
to  Fulton  Ferry. 

Flushing  Ave.   Greenpoint  via  Graham, Flushing  and  Sand  St.  to  Fulton 
Ferry. 

Myrtle  Ave.       City  Line  via  Myrtle  Ave.  to  Fulton  Ferry. 
Gates  Ave.  "        "   Gates,  Greene  and  Fulton  Ave.  to  Fulton 

Ferry. 

Putnam  Ave.      Broadway,  via  Halsey,  Putnam  and  Fulton  Ave.  to  Fulton 
Ferry. 

Fulton  Ave.       East  New  York  via  Fulton  Ave.  to  Fulton  Ferry. 
Flatbush  Ave.    Flatbush  via  Flatbush  and  Fulton  Aves.  to  Fulton  Ferry. 
Third  Ave.        Greenwood  via  Third  and  Fulton  Aves.  to  Fulton  Ferry, 
Court  Street.      Greenwood  via  Court  and  Fulton  Aves.  to  Fulton  Ferry. 
Fort  Hamilton.   Greenwood  via  Third  Ave.  to  Fort  Hamilton. 
Hamilton  Ave.    Greenwood  via  Hamilton  Ave,  to  Hamilton  Ferry. 
Furman  Street.   Hamilton  Ferry  via  Columbia  and  Fui  man  Sts.  to  Fulton 
Ferry. 


LEONHARD  EPPIG'S 

GBRiMANIA 

BREWERY, 

•.•  24  to  u  GEORGE  ST.,  .-. 

COR.  .-.  CENTRAL.-.  AVETv^UE, 

BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 


Telephone  Call,  89  Williamsburg.- 


J.  E.  SIMPSON  &  CO., 

GENERAL  CONTRACTORS 

AND   BUILDERS  OK 

Simpsons  .*.  Improved .  Dry  Dock, 

35  Broadway,  -  NEW  YORK, 

CHESEBRO,  WHITMAN  &  GLIDDEN, 

.M.-VXlFACTrKEKS  OK 

m —  LADDERS, — # 

Step   Ladders,  Painters'   Trusses,   Swing  Stages,  Scaffold 
Horses,  Flag,  Scaffold  and  Awning  Poles. 

SCAFFOLDS  PUT  CP  FOP  FA'FSCO  PAPYTFPS.  .'. 

LADDERS  OK  ALL  DESCRIPTIONS  MADE  TO  ORDER. 

220  Pacific  St.,  near  Court  St.,        -  Brooklyn. 

D.  p.  CHESEBRO,  W.  S.  WHITMAN,  W.  L.  GLIDDEN, 

New  York.  Brookly.v;. 


ELEVATOR     AN^r>     MILLS  Om 

S.  W.  BOWNE, 

DEALER  IN 

^ay,  Straw,  (^rain,  Piour,  Peed,  ^c, 

GOWANUS  CANAL,  NEAR  HAMILTON  AVENUE, 
South  Brooklyn, 

NICK.  DAVIDS, 

COAL  aS5  wood, 

47  &  49  SACKETT  ST.,  BROOKLYN. 

Telephone,    1375  Brooklyn. 

STANDARD  POLICE  CLOTHS 

Used  by  the  Brooklyn  Police  Department. 

Sawyer,  Burt   &  Manning, 

SOLE  AG-KNTS. 

JOHN  SCHLEGEL'S 

U/t^ite  U/ii^e  ai^d  Qder  \/i9e(5ar, 

MANUFACTORY :  132. 134, 136  &  138  TWENTY-SECOND  ST., 

SOUTH  BROOKLYN. 

ATLANTIC  YEAST~CO., 

The  Most  Reliable  Compressed  Yeast  In  the  World- 

Jay  &  John  Sts.,  Brooklyn,  L.  I. 

White  Wine  and  Malt,  also 
PURE  CIDER  VINEGAR, 

E  MB  IRE  riKEGAB  WORKS. 


JOSEPH  WEIL, 

(^ity  Dre55ed  I^efri(5erator  B(^<^f, 

264  Hudson  Avenue.     -  Brooklyn. 
aA^BE  ISAACS, 

WHOLESALE  BUTCHER, 

244  and  246  Hudson  Avenue. 

Always  on  hand  a  select  stock  of  Sides,  Hinds,  Ribs,  Chucks,  etc. 
ICE    HOUSES   OPEN    FROM   4   A.  M.  TILL   7    P.  M. 
Xeleplioiae    Call,  728. 

OAKLEY  &  KEATI^^G, 

40  Cortlandt  Street,  New  York. 
Factory,  135  to  145  Manhattan  Avenue,  BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 

MiarLTafactvii'ers  of 

FOR    INSTITUTIONS   AND  HOTELS. 

Send,   for  Cataloj^iae. 

VIRGINIA  PII^eTn'oOAK  WOOD. 

FAMILIES  SUPPLIED    BY   THE  CORD   OR  LOAD. 

Yard :  Nos.  32,  34  and  36  Morton  Street. 

Telephone  Call,  237  Williamsburg.  BROOKLYX,  E.  D. 

LINDLEY  Z.  MURRAY, 

Dealer  in 

PURNITURL,  (^ARPETS  ^LiMm, 

Nos.  59,  61  and  63  Myrtle  Avenue, 

bk.ook:lyn[,  n.  y. 


U.  S.  &  BRAZIL 

MAIL  STEAMSHIP  CO. 


BETWEEN 

N  K W  YORK 


(Via    NE^WF^ORX    NKWS,  VA.) 

AND 

ST.  THOMAS,  BARBADOS, 

(Connecting  vqr  West  Indies,  Central  America,  Etc.) 

Para,  Mara^iham,  Pernambuco,  Bahia 

 AND  

RIO    DK  JANKIRO.  • 


OOraEOTING  POE  SANTOS,  PAKANAGUA,  ANTONINA,  SANTA 
OATHAKIM,  KIO  GRANDE  DO  SUL,  PELOTAS,  POETO, 
ALEGEE,  MONTEVIDEO  AND  BUENOS  AIEES. 


Tills  is  the  only  Steamship  Line   Carrying  Passengers 
from  the  United  States  to  the  East  Coast 
of  Soiilh  Africa. 


Jennings  Lace  Works, 


Silk  Laces,  Silk  Gloves,  Mitts,  Etc. 

Silk  Guipure^  Spaiiisli,  C'hantilly  and  Blonde,  Lace   Edgings,  Flouncings,  Scarfings,  etc. 
Pure  Silk  (IoikIs  only.    First  and  Largest  Manufacturers  in  America. 
Awarded  Gold,  Silver  and  Bronze  Medals  and  Diplomas. 

FARRELL   LOGAN  &  SON, 

IMaiavilaetiireris  of 

HIGH  AND  LOW  PRESSURE  BOILERS  AND  TANKS, 

Gasometers,  Stills  and  Sugar  Pans  of  Every  Description.   Also  Machine  Work. 

Commercial  and  Clay  Streets, 

OliEElVFOIlVT,        -  JVEW  YORK. 

FSOMFT   MIT^mTiQlS   GIVEN   TO  REPA£R£N:@. 

Telephone  Can,   Brooklyn,  780. 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  in 

o<l MASONS'  Building  Materials.I>o 

Philadelphia  and  Crotou  Fronts,  Commou  Hard  Brick 

Of  all  kinds.    Lime,  Lath,  Cement,  Plaster,  Sand,  ILair,  Fire  Brick,  etc.  Also, 
-^1-  TIMBER   HND   LUMBER.  1^ 

Hemlock,    Spruce,    \'ello\v    Pine,    Oak,    White    Pine,    Walnut,    Ash,  Etc. 

Hamilton  Ave.  &  Gowanus  Canal  &  9tli  St.  &  Gowanus  Canal, 

BROOKLY]V,   ]V.  Y. 


WEIDMANN  COOPERAGE  C^ 

SU&AR,  PLOUR  MD  m  BARRELS 


Half  Barrels,  Kegs,  &c., 

AND  DEALERS  L\ 

Molasses  Hogsheads,    Casks,   Shooks  and  Barrels, 
Also  Staves,  Heading  and  Hoops. 

A  Large  Supply  Constantly  on  Hand. 
OFFICE  AND  FACTORY,  FOOT  OF  N.  6TH  STREET, 

onnected  with  Telephone,  Wilhanisburgh  19  BUOOKLYI*^',  E  13 


BOORUM  &  PEASE, 

  Manu/actiirers  of  

BLANK  BOOKS  AND  PHOTOGRAPH  ALBOMS, 

Salesroom  and.  Office, 

30  and  32  Reade  Street,  New  York. 
Factory,  BRIDGE  AND  FRONT  STREETS,  BROOKLYN. 

S.  WiLLETS  Haviland.  John  a.  Havilanu. 

Telephone  Call,  "Brooklyn  1158." 

S.  W.  &  J.  J^.  H^A^IL^^^D, 


=— =  F  L  O  U  R,  

44,  46  and  48  WASHINGTON  AVE., 

Cor.  FlusMng  Ave.  BROOKLYN. 
Opp.  TVallalDont  Market, 

Esta^blishecl  183B. 

Rock  •  Spring  •  Distillery, 

FRANK   SEAMEN,  Proprietor. 

Distiller,  Importer  and  Wholesale  Liquor  Dealer, 

52  to  64  North  Fourth  Street,  Brooklyn,  E.  D. 

Telephone   Call   403  'WilliaiTisbnroili. 

FRANCIS   S.  HAAS  &  SON, 

IRON  FOUNDERS, 

Cor.  Bushwick  Avenue  and  Scholes  St., 

Brewers'  Work  a  Specialty.  BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 

Castings  fo?'  Buildings,  Machinery,  Ornamental  Railings,  etc. 

MAXl  F.\Cri.  KER  OF 

Enameled,  Mosaic  aod  Venetian  Window  (jiass, 

TILES,  DISKS,  BULLS'  EYES,  JEWELS,  GLASS  CANES. 
Corner  Boerum  and  White  Sts.,       Brooklyn,  L.  I. 


1.  O.  NELSON  &  SON 


GOHL 


Ix::::^  .  f  -  .f  i.  f  i  .1  . 


The  Best  Grades  of  Coal  at  the  Most  Reasonable  PriceC' 
References  to  any  niiniber  of  prominent  Corporatioris 
and  Individuals. 

MAIN  OFFICE  DEGRAW  ST.,  ON  GOWANUS  CANAL, 

25  Atlantic  Ave.,  near  South  Ferry.         356  Fulton  St..  cor  Red  Hook  Lane. 
840  Fulton,  near  Vanderbili  Avenue. 

Z.  O.  NELSON.  W.  H.  NELSON. 


SWEENEY  BROTHERS, 


Quarriers,  Manufacturers,  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  in 

North  River  Blue  Stone, 


Office  and  Yard 


outte"  iNG    Cor,  Beiord  &  FliisMi  Ayes,,  ^''^^^r^ 

CROSSWALKS,  TRrMMINGS 

SIDEWALKS.  BROOKLYN,  E.  D.  BUiLDINGS 


BRANCH     YARD,     EAST      NEW     YORK.     T  ,  I. 


^LoLis  15.  Pkahak.  Chaf.  P.  Shepakd. 

PRAHAR  &  SHEPARD, 


Manufacturers  of 


Mktal  Goods, 

58  CENTRE  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 

P"'actorv,  124,  126,  128  and  130  Pearl  Street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Long  Island  Boof  Company, 

Cor.  Atlantic  Ave.  and  Fort  Greene  Place,  BROOKLYN. 

J.  Sc  I.  LEVY  &L  COMPANY, 

Commission  Dealers  in 

Chicago  Dressed  Beef  &  City  Dressed  Mutton  &  Lamb. 

Meils  Delivered  free  of  Cliarge  to  aoj  Part  of  tbe  Citj.    Teleplione  No.  918  Brooklyn. 
HERMAN  aH^TILFS, 

CURER,  mm  AND  DEALER  III  PROVISIONS, 

59  and  6i  Piospect  Street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
HKM.       #       ^       BKCON.      e      ^  LKRD. 


GEO.  D.  KIMBER  &  SON, 

MM  Iftmls  &  Tools,  Stem  &  Gas  Mors, 

15-21   Nassau  Street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Brooklyn   Managers    since    1863    for   Tatham    &l  Brothers' 

Lead    Pipe    and    Sheet    Lead.  Telephone  No.  227  Brooklyn. 

TELEPHONE  "No.   433  WILLI AMSBURGH." 

N^.  &  M.  Y, 

Wholesale  Dealers  in 

Refrigerated  City  Dressed  Beef, 

Johnson  Ave., Plank  Road,  Brooklyn,  E.  D. 


ANCHOR  LINE, 

Transatlantic,  Mediteffanean  and  Indian  Steamers, 


Regular  Weekly  Service  of  Fast  Steamers  to 

GLASGOW,  LIVERPOOL,  LONDONDERRY,  QUEENSTOWN. 

Passage  Rates  as  low  as  by  any  First-Class  Line.    Drafts  on  the  old  Country  at  Lowest 
Rates.    Letters  of  credit  furnished  for  travelers. 

Henderson  Brothers,  General  Agents, 

7  Bowling  Green,  -  A^EJV  YORK. 

THE 

MeW  Yofl^  \  Hew  Jeri^eJ  Telephone  do. 

Connects  witH 

SIXTEEN  THOUSAND  SUBSCRIBERS 

In  NEW  YORK,  BROOKLYX,  JERSEY  CITY  and  Yicinity. 

ALL  POLICE  AND  FIRE  HEADQUARTERS 

Connected  by  Direct  Wires. 

For  information,  apply  at  General  Office, 

16  SMITH  STREET.  BROOKLYN. 


JOHN  MORTON,  ALBERT  MORTON.  JOHN  C.  MORTON. 

■  JOHN  MORTON  &  SONS, 


WHOLESALE  AND   RETAIL  DEALERS  IN 


MASONS'  BUILDING  MATERIALS 

Philadelphia  &  Croton  Fronts,  &  Common  Hard  Brick 
of  all  kinds.    Lime,  Lath,  Cement,  Plaster, 
Plastering  Hair,  Fire  Brick,  Etc., 

CARROLL  STREET  &  GOWANUS  CANAL, 

Telephone  556,  Brooklyn.  Baroolsilyarx,  Y. 


EDWARD  FREEL, 

GENERAL  CONTRACTOR, 

NO.  209  CLIFTON  PLACE, 
,8.  L^Jr^ifAvB.  Brooklyn,  U.  Y. 

Telephone  Call,  Bedford  52. 

Special  attention  paid  to  Water  Works,  Sewers  and  anything  that 
requires  special  experience  in  that  line. 

W.    H.  BIERDS, 

[Successor  to  T.  H.  BIERDS.] 

Sash,  Blind  &  Door  Manufacturer, 

Cor.  President  St.  and  Third  Ave., 

TELEPHONE  No.  653.  BROOIdvY:^". 
HARD   WOOD  DOORS  A  SPECIALTY. 

T.  O'SHKA, 

BROWN  STONE  YARD, 


Cor.  1 2th  St.  &  2d  Avenue,  Brooklyn. 

ALL  ORDERS  PROMPTLY  ATTENDED  TO. 


CHARLES  S.  LYNAN, 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealer  in 

North  River  and  Pennsylvania 

BLUE  STONE, 

FLAGGING,  SILLS,  COPING,  STEPS,  Etc. 

Also,  Rubbed  Sills,  Mantels   and   Hearths,  Planed  and  Sawed 
Stone,  constantly  on  hand. 

OFFICE,  COR.  CLINTON  #  FLUSHING  AVES., 

BROOKLYN. 

f\efr\((  ^tat\or)ery  9  paper  ?o. 

Man-u-factxirers  of 

Wrixinq  Papers, 
in  pads  and  tablets. 

59  DuANE  Street,     -     -     NEW  YORK- 

m  mi  mmmm  mmi 

Oak-Banned  Leather  Belting. 

OFFICE  AND  SALESROOM  : 
84  and  86  Gold  Street,  -  -  NEW  YORK. 


MOSES  M^Y, 

Wholesale  Butcher, 

Johnson  Ave.,  Brooklyn. 

THE  GUTTA  PERCHA  AND  RUBBER  M'F'G  COMPANY, 

RUBBER  GOODS, 

Belting,  Packing,  Hose,  Mats,  Matting.  Etc. 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  FACTORIES:  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

S.  L.  FOWLER, 

STEAM  POWER, 

55  FuRMAN  Street,  Brooklyn. 

DEMUTH  BROTHERS, 
89  Walker  St.,  New  York.  Faetory,  Newtown  Creek,  Bpooklyn, 

Manufacturers  all  kinds 

FANCY  GLASSWARE. 

Water  Gauges  and  Tubing  for  Brewers  and  Engineers  a  specialty. 

F.  A.  VAN  IDERSTINE, 

HIDES  *  AND  *  FAT 

272  Hudson  Av.,  Brooklyn. 


The  Bradley 

OFFICE  AT  WORKS: 

174  Front  St.,  -  Brooklyn,  N.Y. 
WILLIAM  TAYLOR  &  SONS, 

COLUMBIAN  IRON  WORKS. 

MANUFACTUKERS  OP 

HYDROSTATIC  PRESSES  FOR  COTTON  AND  LINSEED 
OIL  AND  OTHER  PURPOSES. 

General  Machinery  for  Oil,  Paint  and  White  Lead  Manufacture  ;  Steam  Engines,  Mill, 
Hoisting,  Mining  and  Wrecking  Machinery,  also  Castings  for  Store 
Fronts,  Columns,  Girders,  Lintels,  etc. 

23  TO  39  ADAMS  STREET,       -       -       BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

Srass  and.  Iron  Castinors  of  every  description. 

HAVEMEYER 

Sugar  Refilling  Comnany 

Office,  112  WALL  STREET, 

Hector  C.  Havemeyer,  Preset. 

W.  F.  Havemeyer,  Vice  Pres't.  ^,  at  17  TIT'      TT"/^  D 

Jno.  E.  Searles,  Jr.,  Treas'r.  ''5*  I\  ll  VV       I  Ul\I\. 

C  R.  Heike,  Sec'y. 


MANUFACTURERS  OF  PURE  REFINED  SUGARS^  

WALTErTt .  KLOTS  &  BRO.. 

DEALERS  IN 

LIME,  LATH,  BRICK 

AND  MASONS'  MATERIALS. 
FIRE    BRICK,    FIRE    MORTAR,  Etc. 

Main  Office,  SOUTH  ISyiNXH  ST.  &  KK]S^T  AVE 


Yards: 


P'oot  of  South  9th  Street, 
Grand  Street  and  Newtown  Creek. 

Washington  Ave.  &  Wallaboul  Canal,  "R  P  O  O  R"  I  V  NT  F  D 
Foot  of  North  i2th  Street,  D  IS.      W  IX       I  i\  ,  . 

Also  JFoot  of  RivingtonL  Street,  NF^W.YOI^Iv. 

TELEPHONE  CONNi  CTIONS. 


in[  NORTOH  mumi  m  spring  coMPii, 

41,  43  and  45  South  5th  St.,  Brooklyn. 

LYON  M'F'G  CO,  No.  59  Fifth  Ave.,  New  York  City, 

General  Agents  for  United  States  and  Foreign  Countries. 


BRASS  GOODS  M'F'G  CO,  MANUFACTURERS. 

stamped  Brass,  Silvered  and  Tin  Goods,  Caps,  Labels  for  Cans,  Key  and  Bagrgage 
Checks,Hyatt's  Patent  Improved  Brass  and  Iron  Spring  Bolt?,for  fastening  Window 
Screens,  Cabinet  Ware,  Closet  and  House  Doors,  etc.    The  best  and  cheapest 
Bolts  in  the  Market.  Patent  Mirror  and  Pin  Cushion  Business  Cards.  Round 
and  Oval  Mirrors  for  Perfume  Bottles,  etc.   Agents  for  the  sale  of 
Hickcox  Manufacturing  Co.'s  Patent  Tin  Handle  Mucilage  Bi'ushes. 
Bronze  &  Plated  Thimbles,  Roses,  Escutcheons,  Drop  Bases,  etc. 

88  Chambers  Street,  ISTEW  YORK. 

Factory,  253  and  254  State  Street,  BROOKLYN. 
Specialties   and.   INTovelties   Made   to  Order. 

Henry  N.  Hooper,  Pres't, on  the  Premises.   Is.\.\cH.  Gary,  Treas.,  196  Fulton  St.,  Brooklyn. 

RELIABLE  STEAM  POWER  CO., 

Office.  260  Plymouth  St.,  Brooklyn. 

FLOORS  AND  ROOMS  TO  LEASE  WITH  POWER. 

Corliss'  Engines  and  Appliances  in  Duplicate  to  Insure  Reliabilitj  of  Power. 
Steam  Heat  and  Elevators.    Buildings  running  through  from  Water 

to  Plymouth  Streets.     Near  Bridge  Street. 
Distant  ten  minutes  walk  from  the  Bridge  or  Fulton  or  Catharine  Ferries,  and  two 
blocks  from  Bridge  Street  Ferry. 

EMPIRE    STATE    FLINT    GLASS  WORKS. 

F.  THILL, 

M'f  r  of  Syphons,  Urn  Jars,  Ring  Jars,  Fish  Globes,  Vases, 

CHIMNEYS,  FOUNTS,  RETORTS  &  RECEIVERS, 

Also,  all  kinds  of  Glass  for  Chemical  Purposes,  and  a  general  assortment 
of  Flint  and  Colored  Glassware. 

104  to  112  Kent  Atc,     Cor.  Taylor  St,,     BrooHyii,  E,  D, 


HURD,  WAITE  &  CO., 

RELIABLE   DRY  GOODS 

AT  BOTTOM  PRICES. 


^    WilllcHTLi  H.  Jories^, 

DKAI.KK  IN 

Northeast  Corner  3d  Avenue  and  Baltic  Street, 
DUBOIS  m  IVA  TCH  %  CASE  m  CO., 

MAXUFACTIRERS  OF 

FINE  QOLD   WATCH  CASES. 

A  Specialty  in  Raised  Gold  Ornamentation. 

2  2  ^0  26  Morton  Street,        -         -  BROOKLYX. 

New   York   Office,  2   JOHN    ST.,  Cor.  Broadway. 

L.    C0:MJBRE]M0:N'X,    Sole  ^^ent. 

RANKIN    &  ROSS, 

Dealers  in  BROWX  DORCHESTER  AND  OHIO 

FREESTONE, 

Cor.  Bond  and  Carroll  Streets,  Brooklyn. 

Telephone  Call,  614  Williamsburgh. 

LEVY    <fe  M^Y, 

Wholesale  Dealers  in 

EEEEIGEMTED  CITY  DRESSED  BEEE, 

JOHXSOX  AVENUE  SLAUGHTER  HOUSE, 
Cash  Paid  for  Hides,  Calf-Skins  and  Tallow.        BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 

COOPERAGE, 

306,  308  and  310  Water  St.,  New  York. 


Casks  and  Barrels  of  every  Description  Bought  and  Sold,  and 
Constantly  on  Hand. 


JOHN  ROBERTSON  &  CO., 

TUBAL  CAIN  IRON  WORKS, 

5IANUFACTURE1JS  OP 

OF  EVERY  DESCRIPTION. 
PIPE   &   SHEET   LEAD    M[  ACHIN  ER,  Y. 

127,  129  &  131  WATER  ST.,      -      -     BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

FREDERICK  TIELEKFS 

KINDIiIJMg  *  W§0D  #  YMd, 

WASHINGTON  AVENUE, 

Near  Wallabout  Bridge,  -  -  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

Virginia  Pine,  Oak  and  Hickory  at  Lowest  Market  Prices. 

R.  B.  FERGUSON, 

Carpenter  ^=  and  Builder, 

Corner  Lee  Avenue  and  Gwinnett, 

Telephone  No.  241  Williamsburg.        -        BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 

,T0I?BI:N"G^   F'ROIM'PTLY   ATTEIS^DED  TO. 

"gTI'HL  &  WISSEL'S 

CYPREggoJIIIilig'PTI^K, 

Cypress  Hills,  Long  Island. 

GEORGE  GIEHL.  CHARLES  WISSEL. 

CHAS.  PFIZER  f,*»  CO., 

MAPFAGTHEING  CHEMISTS, 

81  iVLaiden  Lane, 

NEW  YORK. 

CHARLES  PFIZER.  C.  Y.  ERHART.  B.  H.  HUTTMANN. 


JOH^  aooD, 

MANUFACTURER  OF 

Bir?dip(^  Jvuipe  9  Q)rda(^e  |T^aGl?ipery, 

AND    IROX  KOIJXI3ER. 

Washington  &  Park  Avenues  &  Hall  St., 


c  H.pixE       PINE  &  GIBERSON,  g.b.kson 

SUCCESSORS  TO  Geo.  F.  Coklis. 

BOARDING^^ LIVERY  STABLES 

Light  Wagons,  Coaches,  Landaus,  SuFreys  and  Coupes 

BY  THE  HOUR,  DAY,  WEEK  OR  MONTH. 

Nos.  178  &  180  South  Portland  Ave.,        -  BUOOKLYN. 

Between  Fulton  Street  .a.nd  Atl.\ntic  Avenue. 

Telephone  Call  176,  Brooklyn.  OPEN  AT  ALL  HOURS. 

Special  Attention  paid  to  Boarding  Horses. 
OXFORD 

Hagerty  Brothers  &  Co., 

Importers,  Manufacturers,  and  Dealers  in 

DRUGGISTS'    AND    PERFUMERS'    FLINT   AND  GREEN 

GLASSWARB. 

DRUGGISTS'  SUNDRIES  AND  FANCY  GOODS. 

Nos.  5,  5  S  10  PLflTT  STREET,      -      NEW  YORK, 

Betu't-t'H  Pearl  and  Cold  Streets. 

Glassworks,  Smith  Street,  Near  Hamilton  Ave.,  Brooklyn 


STANDARD  POLICE  CLOTHS 

Used  by  the  Brooklyn  Police  Department. 

Sawyer,   Burt   &  Manning, 


G.  ROSS  &  SONS, 

LUMBER  and  TIMBER, 

Cor.  NEVINS  and  BUTLER  STS., 

Head   or  Growanus  Canal. 

BROOKLYN,  L.  I. 

TKLE:F>H0NT^    call,     BROOKLYN,  103. 


J.  G.  Jenkins,  President.  Capital,  8300,000. 

George  D.  Betts,  Cashier.  Surplus,  8555,000. 


pirst  j^atiopal  BapK- 

BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

Organized,  1852. 


S PR  AGUE  NATIONAL  BANK 

OK  BROOKIvYN, 

Commenced.   Business,      -      -      _     Jnly   1,  1883. 

Capital,  $200,000. 

Surplvis  and  Undivided  Profits,  $53,840.00 

N.  T.  SPRAGUE,  President.        WM.  HARKNESS,  Vice-Pres't. 
F.  K.  SMITH,  Cashier. 


ALBERT  MOST, 

Dealer  in 

COAL  AND  WOOD, 

50  to  58  Sackett  Street. 
Near  Ha.tiirton  Ferry.  BROOKLYN. 

I.  STRUBBL, 

IRON  .\  RAILING  .'.  WORKS, 

FIRE  ESCAPES, 

Cemetery  Fj^tx^^^;  and  all  kinds  of  House  Work  })roniptly  attended  to. 

33  &  35  SOUTH  1st  STREET. 

Near  Kent  Avenue,  BROOKLYN,  E-  D- 

lf\:mE  MORK  K  SPECIALITY. 


Telephone  Call,  655  Williamshuigii. 

GEORGE  S.  HARRIS, 

WALLAB0U7  BLUE  STONE  YARD, 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealer  in 

A  large  supply  of  Sills,  Coping,  Curb,  Mantels,  Lintels  and  Steps 
on  hand.    Flagging  in  all  its  branches. 
YARD  :  COR.  KENT  aVl.  AND  HEWES  ST. 


JOSEPH  G.  MILLER, 

HOUSE  MOVER, 

Shoring,  Sheath  Piling,  Boilers,  Machinery  and  Iron  Work  Set,  &c. 

No.  280  Kosciusko  Street, 

Near  Throop  Avenue, 

Box  No.  36,  Mechanics  and  Traders  UP  OO  Iv'  T  VNF 

Exchange,  363  Fulton  St.  DXVWWIVL^liN. 

Also  405  Pearl  St.,  New  York. 


Established  1848.  Telephone  Call.  Nassau  104.  Incorporated  1870. 

WM,  GABBLE  EXCELSIOR  WIRE  MANUFACTURING  CO,, 

Warehouse,  43    FULTON    STREET,   NEW  YORK. 

Factory.  147,  149  and  l.nl  Union  Avenue,  ami  ^i,  81.  81;  and  88  Ainslie  Street.  Brooklyn,  K.  D- 

Manufacturers  of  Superior  Fourdrinier  Wires 

And    all    kinds   of   Copper,  Brass  and    Iron  Wire  Cloth,  Copper.   Brass  and  Iron  Wire, 
3Ieat  Safes.  Sieves,  Coal  and  Sand  Screens.  Bird  Cases.  Rat  Traps  and  Wire  }^ ''il^  of 
every  description.    Cylinders  and   Dandy  Rolls  3Iade  and   Covered  to  order. 
A  Superior  article  of  Wire  for  Hrnshinakers  constantly  on  hand. 


J.  S.  ROCKWELL  &  COMPANY, 

MANUFACTURERS  AND  IMPORTERS  OF 

Every  Variety  of  Sheep  Leather 

For  Bookbinders,  Boot  and  Shoe,  Hat,  Pocket  Book,  Bag,  Album, 
Suspender  and  Organ  Manufacturers. 

ENGLISH  AND  FRENCH  CHAMOIS. 

1 01        /6>j  Dttane  St,,  New  York, 

i8  HIGH  STREET,  BOSTON. 


THE  LONG  BRANCH  HOTEL, 


Corner  Fulton  and  Sands  Streets,     -      Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


E.  W.  BLISS  COMPANY, 

Plymouth,  Pearl,  John  and  Adams  Streets, 

Office,  17  ADAMS  ST.,       -       Brooklyn,  N,  Y. 

Builders  of  Machinery  for  Working  Sheet  Metals.    Draining,  Power 
and  Foot  Presses.    Drop  Presses  for  Forging  and  Stamping 
Double  Seaming  Machines  for  Round,  Square  and  Ovaf 
Work.  Circular  Shears  for  Hand  and  Power.  Squaring 
Shears  for  Foot  and  Power.    Canning  Machinery. 
Dies  of  every  description.     Petroleum  Can 
Machinery.    Special  Macliinery. 


A^o.  177  JMONTAGUE  STREET, 

Capital  (Full  Paid),  -  -  -  $1,000,000 

Mainly  invested  in  U.  S.  4  per  cent.  Bonds,  at 
par  and  a  LARGE  SURPLUS. 

Allows  interest  on  deposits.  Deposits  are  subject  to  check  at  sight,  or  return- 
able at  specified  dates;  Issues  certificates  (if  deposit.  Desirable  depository  of  funds 
awaiting  investment.  Authorized  by  special  charter  to  act  as  executor,  adndn- 
istrator,  guardian,  trustee  or  any  otlu'r  iiosition  of  trust;  is  a  legal  depository  for 
iiKiiiey  iiaitl  into  court.  Acts  as  rcgistiar  oi'  transfer  agents  of  stocks  and  bonds,  and 
is  trustee  for  railrc.'ad  (^r  dtlirr  torpdiTitidU  mortgages.  Pecidiar  advantages  are 
dei'ived  from  having  tlie  Trust  Company  act  in  any  of  the  above  capacities.  Will 
e-xiM'utt'  ovdci's  for  purcliase  and  sale  of  United  States  bonds  or  other  investment 
securities,  rjx.ii  dcjiosit  of  cash  or  approved  security  this  company  will  guarantee 
letters  of  cretlit  and  pay  all  draft.s  under  same. 

RIPLEY  ROPES,  President,  EDMUND  W.  CORLTES,  Vice-Pres. 

JAMES  ROSS  CURRAX,  Secretary.        FREDERICK  C  COLTON,  Assistant  Sec'y. 

  TRUSTEES  

Josiah  O.  Low,  E.  F.  Knowlton,         Henry  K.  Slieldon,      A.  A.  Low, 

Alex.  M.  White,         John  T.  ^Martin,         Cornelius  Wood,        Alexander  McCue, 
Frederick  Cromwell,  William  II.  IMale,         MicliaeK  iiaiincey,      E.  W.  Corlies, 
John  P.  Rolfe,  Ripley  Ropes,  Wm.  B.  Kendall,        H.  E.  Pierrepont, 

Abram  B.  Baylies,  II.  W.  Maxwell. 


IcSliane's  Crown  Stoneware  Laundry  Tubs 


I  atent  Applied  for. 

AT  ABOUT  THE  COST  OF  WOODEN  WASH  Tl'BS.   THE  WOODEN  WASH  TUB  MUST  GO. 

Because  it  Leaks.  Because  it  ahsorbes  filthy  and  soapy  wash  water,  rendering  it  offensive 
to  smell  and  injurious  to  health.  Because  it  splits  and  warps,  separating  joints  and  leaving 
bleeding  places  for  Poaches  and  Water  Bugs.  Because  ^ffC.*»haiie*S  Crown 
Stoiienare  I..aun<lry  Tubs  <Jo«»t  UO  More,  and  are  made  of  one  piece  only, 
being  Seamless  and  warranted  not  to  Leak,  and  will  be  used  by  every  one  in  preference. 

MTil  liy  HENRY  MoSHANE  &  CO,,  50  k  52  MYRTLE  AVE., 


BROOKLYN,  JNT,  Y. 


WIRTH  BROTHERS, 

Watchmakers  and  Jewelers, 

NO.  92  BROHDWHY, 

Bet.  Berry  Street  and  Bedford  Ave.,  R  P  O  O T  VNT  T7 

(Formerly  3d  and  4th  Sts.)  D  IV  W  ^  iV  1^  I  i\  ,    IL.  U. 

Diaiiioiads,  'Watches,  Jewelry,  Silver  and.  T*lated  Ware. 


James  Howell.  D.  \  .  Saxtan. 

HOWELL  &  SAXTAN, 

Iron  Work  of  every  Description  for  Buildings. 

Office:  353  ADAMS  STREET,  R  P  H H      T  V hi 

Works:  HUDSON  COR.  PARK  AVES.  ''-^  I  I\ , 

Repairing  and  Jobbing  Attended  to  IProiTiptly. 

MANUFACTURER  AND  IMPORTER  OF  ALL  KINDS  OP 

^BRAIDS.^ 

SALESROOM  : 

15  &  17   MERCER    ST.,     (One  Block  from  BVay,)  ]SEWYORK. 
Factory:   S35  to  Lynch  St.,  Brooklyn. 


WORTHINGTON 

Stkam  Pumps 

SEND  FOR  ILLUSTRATED  CATALOGUE 


HENRY  R.  WORTHINGTON 

NE^W  YORK, 
Boston    Philadelphia    Chicago   St.  Louis    San  Francisco. 


peter  <5ooper's 


Que  paetory, 


l^lo.  17  Btjrli9(^  Slip. 


H^H-jtmjj;!  tit  ■  iitmiit..;t5iitii«iti 


FISCHEH  BROS., 

IMPORTERS,  RECTIFIERS, 

IUP)0LG^ALG  LIQUOR  DGALGR^ 

And  Distillers  of  Cordials. 

SOLE  AGENTS  FOR  SPANISH  RELIEF  BITTERS. 

694  THIRD  AVENUE,     -     -  BROOKLYN. 

WALTHER   &  CO., 

FANCY  PAPERS, 

104  Harrison  Street,      -  Brooklyn. 
65  DUANE  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 

JACOB  JAMER, 

MANUFACTURER  OF 

WROTJ&HT  AO  CAST  lEOI  PIPE, 

Brass  and  Iron  Fittings,  Valves,  Cocks,  etc.    Supplies  of  every 
description  for  Plumbers,  Gas  Fitters,  Engineers, 
Breweries,  Refineries,  etc. 
No.  84  JOHN  STREET.        -        -        NEW  YORK. 

Telephone  Call,  "  Nassau  "213. 

U,  I  FOREIGN  AND  DOMESTIC  [IQUOII  COMPAiV, 

Under  personal  management  of  PROF.  HUGO  TATERKA, 
DISTILLERS    A:NID   H  E  C  T  I      I  HI  R,  S  , 

Dealers  in  Imported  and  Domestic  Wines  and  Liquors, 

Cognac,  Rum,  Etc. 
ORANGE  WHISKEY,  ORAJfGE  BRANDY  AND  ORANGE  BITTERS 

A  SPECIALTY. 

46  GRAHAM  AV.,  COR.  COOK  ST.,       -       BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 

PIONEER  IRON  WORKS, 

149  to  163  WILLIAM  ST.,  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

Telephone  Call,  Brooklyn,  24. 

Manufaciurers  of  Stationary  and  Maiine  Engines  and  Boilers,  Oil  Stills, 

Tanks  and  Sheet  Iron  Work,  Shafting,  Bullies  and  Hangers. 
Specialties  :  Machinery  for  Sugar  Plantations,  Tools  for  Paving  and  Road 
Making.    Also,  Machinery  for  Flour  Mills  and  Grain  Elevators. 

ALEXANDER,  BASS,  HKN  R  Y  ER  ANKK, 

President.  Treasurer  and  Manager, 


j-iardenbergh  &  king, 
Carpkts, 

COR.  OF  FULTON  AND  CLINTON  STS., 

 BROOKLYN. 

A.  D.  MATTHEWS  &  SONS, 

DRY  GOODS, 

FULTON  ST.  CORNER  GHLLHTIN  PLHCE, 

BROOKLYN. 

WILLIAM  DURST, 

METAL  «  SPINNER, 

And  Brass  Worker  in  General, 
86  &  88  Pearl  St.,  Nea.Fro„ cs.r.ec.  BROOKLYN,  N.Y. 

ERIE  BASIN  IRON  WORKS, 

Elizabeth,  Dwight  and  Van  Dyke  Sts.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
MANUFACTURERS   OF  MACHINERY 

OF   ALL  CLASSES. 

s  SOUTH  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y.,  50  &  52  Elizabeth  Street, 
umces.  I         YORK,  35  Broadway,  P.  0.  Box  1815. 

GASKELL,  GREENLIE  &  CO., 

(Successors  to  Preston  &  Co.,  also  Callraeyer  &  Co.,) 

Blacksmiths  and  Machinists, 

GREENPOINT  BOLT  WORKS, 

63  £  65  FREEMAX  STREET, 

Cor.  West  Street,        Grecnpoint,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


E.      Bartlett  Sz  Co 


Office,  No.  19  Old  Slip, 


NEW  YORK. 


HARBECK  STORES, 

WATSON  STORES, 

BALTIC  STORES, 

ROBERT  STORES, 

CENTRAL  ELEVATOR, 

UNION  STORES, 

IRON  YARDS, 

MEDITERRANEAN  STORES, 


CUSHMHN  Sl  CO., 

Prentice  Stores 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


H.  D.  OSTERxMOOR  &  SON, 

Offices :  35  Broadway  and  11  Trinity  Place,       -       New  York. 
Factory :  125  to  141  King  Street,    -  Brooklyn. 

F^TEJVT   ELASTIC  T^JELT 

Mattresses,  Bolsters,  <&c. 


YACHT  FURNISHING. 

Send  for  Pamphlet. 


Chas.  E.  Bigelow,  Pres.  F.  A.  Neergaard,  Treas.  J.  13.  Colton,  Sec'y. 


41-  BHY  •  STHTE 

IManTifactvirers  of 

BOOTS,  SHOES  &  BALMORALS. 

SALESROOMS:  TRADE  MaEIf  FACTORIES: 

9i  &  93  Chambers         ^ST^      Worcester,  Mass. 

73  &  75  Reade  Sts.,      ^      f  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

NEW  YORK.  '^L-C*  Ossining,  N.  Y. 

WORKMANSHIP  WARRANTED. 


Steam  and  Sail  Lighters, 

Office  :  91  &  93  Wall  St.,  NEW  YORK. 

Telephone  Call,  523  New, 

STEAMER  ''OX;'  for  Towing,  Lightering,  Wreck- 
ing and  Hoisti^ig  Heavy  Weights, 

WITH    BKSX  WISHKS 

  OF   

WM.  BERRI'S  SONS, 

LEADING  CARPET  HOUSE 

IN  BROOKLYN. 

'         BRAID  BROTHERS, 

IRON  FOUNDERS, 

Cor.  Quay  &  West  Sts„  GREENPOINT,  L.  L 

ALL  KINDS  OF  CASTINGS   MADE,  SUCH  AS  PIANO 
PLATES,  MACHINERY  CASTINGS,  ETC. 

Telephone  Call,  207  Greenpoint. 

PIPER  AND  REWICK, 

GRAND  BAZAAR, 

THE  POPULAR  INSTITUTION  OF  THE  EASTERN  DISTRICT. 
190,  192,  194  and  196  Grand  Street, 
BROOKLYN.  N.  Y. 


EUGENE  G.  BLACKFORD,  HOWARD  M.  SMITH,  DOUGLASS  R.  SATTERLEE^ 

President.  Vice-Pres't.  Cashier. 

BKDFORD  BANK, 

Fulton  St.,  cor.  of  Bedford  Ave.,         -        BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 
Capital,  $100,000.00  Authorized  Capital,  $500,000.00 


SHORTLAND  BROS.  &  CO., 

Cooperage  and  Lighterage, 

1 08  Wall  Street,  Tncw  York. 
THE  EPFIlSraER  &  RUSSELL 

CREOSOTING  WORKS, 

Foot  of  Sixth  St.,  Gowanus  Canal,  Brooklyn. 

N"ew   Yorli   Office,  160   Water  Street. 

EE.  T^ATTERMAyrj^. 

Broadway,  I^lia shins;  and.  Grraham  A.vemaes. 

DRY  QOODS, 

Complete  Outfits  for  Ladies  and.  Children. 
J.  &  W.  M^THISON, 

IVIan-ufactvirers  of 

Paint,  Varnish,  Lard,  Pickle  Kegs, 

ETC.,  ETC. 

107  &  109  North  P'irst  St.,  near  Third  St.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
EAST  RIVER  FLINT  GLASS  WORKS. 

FRANCIS  STORM, 

Gla3  3  ManuLf acturer, 

Cor.  North  Eleventh  &  Second  Sts.,  Brooklyn,  E.  D.,  N.  Y. 

WILLIAM  ]N£cA^I3A.M, 

IManuifactvirer  of 

STEAM  BOILERS,  TANKS,  OIL  STILLS,  ETC., 

Foot  of  Milton  Street,  Greenpoint,  L.  I.  . 


E.  4  B,  CO.'S  CEIEBailEII 


Perfect  in  operation. 

Economical  in  fuel. 

Recommended  by  all  cooks. 

First-class  in  every  respect. 
Even  bakers. 

Cannot  be  excelled. 

Try  them  and  be  convinced^ 

RICHARDSON  &  BOYNTON  CO., 

234  Water  Street,  New  York. 
84  Lake  Street,        -       -         Chicago,  III. 


Ed.  J.  SHEPITLOCK, 

SOLE  AGENT  FOR  LO>G  ISLAND. 


Gmess'  Stonl 

AND 

Barley  Wine 


THE  ABBEY,   #  585  Fulton  Street, 


Chops, 

Steaks, 
Rabbits,  Etc, 
Club  Soda. 


BROOKLYN. 


N.  Poulson. 


M.  Eger. 


B.  E.  J.  Eils. 


HECL^    IROIST  WORKS, 

POULSON   &   EGER,  NEW  YORK. 


Works  and  Main  OfBce, 
North  10th,  North  1 1th  and  Berry  Sts., 

BROOKLYN.  E.  D. 


Salesrooms, 
216  and  218  West  23rd  Street, 

NEW  YORK. 


AMERICAN 

(CALIFORNIA,  OHIO,  MISSOURI,  VIRGINIA,) 

WIISTES  and  BR^:N^DIES, 

144  Fulton  St.,  opp.  Bridge  Entrance,  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

WINE  CELLARS,  53,  55  and  57  HENRY  STREET. 

E.  P.  GLEASON  M'F'G  COMPANY, 

181  to  189  Mercer  St.,  New  York.       Glass  Factor}^  Greenpoint. 

Importers  of  Shades,  Chimneys,  Laya  Tips,  Prisms,  Fancy 
Colored  Globes,  Gas  Hooks,  Etc. 

Manaiactarers  of  Gas  Burners,  Etched,  Sand  Blast  and  Electric 
Globes,  Patent  Annealed  Chimneys,  Lanterns,  Etc. 


We  hereby  inform  the  pubHc  that  our  Refined 
Sugars  consist  solely  of  the  product  of  raw  Sugar 
Refined.  Neither  Glucose,  Muriate  of  Tin,  Muriatic 
Acid,  nor  any  other  foreign  or  deleterious  or  fraudu- 
lent substance  whatever  is  or  ever  has  been  mixed 
with  them.  Our  Sugars  and  Syrups  are  absolutely 
unadulterated. 

Havemeyers  &  Elder. 
The  Decastro  &  Donner 

SUGAR  REFINING  CO, 

OFFICE, 


117  Wall  Street,  NEW  YORK. 


Manufacturer  of  Superior 

HOUSEKEEPERS'  HARDWARE 

Garden  and  Floral  Instruments  and  3Iechanics'  (Small)  Tools, 

Factory  and  Office,  249  to  253  Plymouth  St.,      Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

J^"ew   Yorlc   "Warf^lioiase,  S4   IDu-ane  Street. 
Established    1866.  Incorporated  1885. 

HENRY  VOGT  &  BROS.  M'F'G  CO. 

IVIaiixafaetrirers  of" 

HIGH  AND  LOW  PRESSURE  BOILERS, 

AND  HENRY  YOGI'S  PATENT  TUBULAR  BOILERS, 
Office,  9  Kent  Avenue,     Late,  516  1st  St.,  Brooklyn^  E,  D, 

Works,  61,   63   and.   65    "N'orth.   ISth  Street. 

J^.  O'D  O  N  N  E  L  L, 

JVIanvifactTzrer   and   IDealer  in 

l^eu/  9  §^c;o9d-j^aI7d  plour  9  Su(^ar  Barrels, 

also,  Lard  Tierces,  Whiskey  and  Vinegar  Barrels  constantly  on  hand, 
Cor,  PARK      CLASSOX  AVENUES,  BROOKLYN, 

SCHUETZEN  PARK, 

Third  Ave.  &  50th  St.,  SOUTH  BROOKLYN. 

Committees  of  Lodges,  Societies,  Churches,  Clubs,  Posts,  Shooting  Orga- 
nizations, etc.,  are  respectfully  invited  to  inspect  my  large  Park 
for  Engagements.  JOHN  DOBBIN,  Prop, 

H.  P.  Journeay.  L.  S.  Burnham.  Hugh  Boyd. 

JOURNEAY    &  BURNHAM, 

Innporters   and.   Dealers  in 

DRY  aOODS, 

124:,  126  S  128  A  tlantic  St,,  and  121,  123  S  125  Pacific  St, 

Manu-factnrer  of 

TRUCKS,  CARTS  &  WAGONS 

Of  Every  Description.   Jobbing:  Promptly  Attended  to. 

173  to  187  North  Second  Street,  -  BROOKLY^f•,  E.  D. 

Telephone   610  "Williams'bvi.rj;. 


STANDARD  POLICE  CLOTHS 

Used  by  the  Brooklyn  Police  Department. 

Sawyer,  Burt  &  Manning, 

SOLE  AOE^^TS. 

ESTABLISHED  1850. 

MARTIN  WORN  &  SONS, 

Manufacturers  of  Walnut,  Mahogany  and  Ash 

O  CHAMBER  FURNITURE,  WARDROBES,  I> 

Sideboards,  Chiffouiers,  etc.,  Bunk  and  Office  Fixtures. 
Office  &  Warerooms :  103  to  109  Humboldt  Street,  cor,  Seigel  Street. 

Factory,  127  to  133  Seigel  Street,        -        -        BKOOKIiYN,  E.  ».,  T. 

JOB  PRIITIIG-  ESTABLISHMENT. 

Mercantile  and  Theatrical  Printing,  Wood  Engraving, 

Litlioorraphing,  Etc. 

NO.  38  MESEY  STREET,  NEM  YORK. 

Telephone  Call,  "  Nassau  76  " 
Robert  F.  Gillix\.  Jos.  H.  Tooker.  Ph.  Dillon.  T.  Haves. 

J.  T.  E.  LITCHFIELD  &  CO., 

DEALERS  IN 

Michipo  aod  Canada  Pios  Lomiief  and  Spruce  Timbef, 

YELLOW  PINE  FLOORING  AND  WAINSCOTIVG, 
THIRD  STREET,  SOUTH  BROOKLYN. 

Oia   GJ-owaniiS  Canal. 

Directions  for  Reaching  Third   Street. — From  Fulton   Ferry,  take   Third  Avenue, 
Smith  Street  or  Court  Street  Cars. 

Telephone  Call,  378  Williamsblrgh. 

FRANCIS  E.  FRITH, 

(Late  Frith  Brothers.) 

Steam  Kindling  Wood  Factory 

AND  FAMILY  AND  (GROCERS'  COAL  YARD, 

118, 120  &  122  Olasson  Avenue,  43,  45  &  47  Schenck  Street, 

brook:  IvYN. 

Dealer  in  Virginia  Pine,  Oak  and  Hickory  Wood.    Wood  by  the  Cord, 
Load  or  Bundle.'    Coal  by  the  Ton  or  Cargo. 


LEAVY  &  BRITTON 


BREWING  CO. 


Crystal  Sprip^  Breu/ery 


COR.  JAY  AND  FRONT  STREETS, 


BROOKLYN. 


-A 

 ^K^^^f 


PETROLEUM 


JELLY. 


Grand   Medal  at  the  Philadelphia  Exposition.  Silver 
Medal  at  the  Paris  Exposition.    Highest  Award 
at  the  London  Medical  Congress. 


USED  AXD  APPROVED  BY  THE  LEADIM  PHYSICIANS  OF  EUROPE 

AND  AMERICA. 


THE  MOST  VALUABLE  REMEDY  KNOWN 

For  the  treatment  of  Wounds,  Burns,  Sores,  Cuts,  Chilblains,  Skin  Diseases,  Rheumatism, 
Catarrh,  Hemorrhoids,  Sunburn,  and  for  every  purpose  where  a  liniment  is  needed. 
Also  for  Coughs,  Colds,  Sore  Throat.  Croup  and  Diphtheria,  Dysentery,  etc. 

PRICE  OF  PURE  VASELINE  REDUCED. 


Size  No.  0 — 1  ounce  bottle,    -----  10  Cents. 

1—  2         "    15  " 

2—  5         "   25  " 

Half  lb— 8  oz.  tins,   35  " 

One  lb— 16  oz.  tins.      ------  50  " 


VA  SELINE    CONFECTl  ONS. 
Agreeable   Form   of  Taking  "Vaseline  Internally. 
THE  TOILET  ARTICLES  MADE  FROM  PURE  VASELINE 

SUCH  AS 

POMADE  VASELINE. 

The  purest  and  best  dressing  for  the  hair  extant.    It  is  elegant,  healthful  and  clean;  will 
cure  and  prevent  dandruff;  contains  no  animal  matter,  and  will  never  become  rancid; 
IVill  make  the  Hair  grow  when  nothing  else  will. 

PRICE  OF  POMADE  VASELINE  REDUCED. 

Size  No.  1—2  ounce  bottle,    -----         20  Cents. 
2—5         "   35  " 

VASELINE  COLD   CUE  AM, 

Will  allay  all  irritation  of  the  skin  and  keep  the  complexion  smooth,  soft  and  clear.  Su- 
perior to  all  Cosmetics.    For  use  after  shaving,  and  chafing  of 
infants  it  is  unequalled — 20,  30  and  50  Cts. 

VASELINE  CAMPHOR  ICE, 

For  the  lips,  pimples,  blotches,  chapped  hands,  skin  and  local  irritation,        -       25  Cents. 

KOR.   SAIvK    BY   Alvlv  DRUGGISTS. 


CHESEBROUGH  •••  MANUFACTURING  •••  CO., 

24  State  Street,  New  York. 


F^i.  WILCOX.  WILLET  THOMPSON. 

BROOKLYN    NEEDLE  WORKS. 

Sewiiiii   IVIac'liii-ie  Neeclle.s. 


Fine  Iron  Castings,  Tool  and  Pattern  Making,  General  Machinists,  Screw 
Cutting,  Die,  Pr«ss  and  Interchangeable  Work.    Special  Hat 
Machinery,  Plain  and  Ornamental  Japanning. 
SI,  23,  S5  &c  27  WJJTl^LJ^lSr  S^PREEX,  near  FviltorL  Ferry, 

 BROOKLYN,  N.  Y.  

BROOKLYN  MILL   LUMBER  CO., 

Atlantic  and  Schenectady  Avenues. 

And  all  kinds  of  Lumber,  Doors,  Sash  Blinds,  Posts,  Mouldings,  Cabinet 

Trimmings,  &c. 

ESTIMATES  GIVEN   FOR  LARGE  OR  SMALL  CONTRACTS. 

Telephone,  Bedford  33. 

C.  &  R.  POILLON, 

Shipwrights,  Cmtlkers  &  Sparmake^s, 

Ship  Yard  and  Wharves  foot  of  Clinton  St.,  Brooklyn.  224  SOUTH  STREET, 

Telephone  New  York  528  N.^ssau,  NE"Wr  YOHiK 

Vessels  of  every  description  repaired  in  the  most  thorough  manner,  and  at  the  lowest  rates. 
Masts  and  Spars  furnished  with  dispatch  and  warranted  to  be  of  the  best  material.  Spars  for 
shipment  or  home  use,  Oaic  Timber  and  Plank,  White  and  Yellow  Pine  Timber,  Deck  Plank, 
Knees,  Locust  Treenails,  Oak  and  Ceiling  Wedges,  Pitch  Oakum,  etc. 

Timber  cut  to  any  required  form  at  shi:>rt  notice. 

4^  Vessels  taken  up  on  any  of  the  Docks  and  Railways  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn. 


C.  M.  MEDICTJS, 

iM.\NUFACTL"RER  OK 

PARLOR  AND  DINING  ROOM 

FURNITURE. 

45,  47,  49  De  Kalb  Avenue, 

BROOKLYN,  N.  Y, 

HENRY  C.  FISCHER, 

Iron  Kounder, 

NOS.  234  TO  242  GREENE  STREET,  GREENfPOINT, 

BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 


ESTABLISHED  1870. 


FRANK  PEARSALL, 

Professional  Photographer> 

PORTRAITS,  LANDSCAPES,  TIEWS  of  BUILDINGS, 

Exterior  and  Interior.    Instantaneous  Pictures  of  Animals, 
Driving  Turnouts,  Equestrians,  Boats,  Yachts,  etc. 
Crayons,  Water  Colors,  India  Inks  and  Mina- 
tures  reproduced  from  old  and  faded 
pictures. 

The  Compact  Camera  for  Tourists.       Amateur  Supplies* 
Negatives  Developed,  Printed  and  Instructions  Given. 

28,000  NEGATIVES  ON  HAND   FROM   WHICH    DUPLICATES  CAN 
BE  ORDERED. 

Styles  introduced :  Studies  in  Sepia,  Non-Distorted  Photo  Prints, 
Tadema  Panel,  Life  Size  Photographic  Portraits,  Bijou  Imperial, 
French  Gray  Imperial, 

Inventions  Patents  Granted :  Compact  Camera,  Pearsall  Improved 
Camera,  Flexible  Focusing  Screen,  Ruby  Plate  Holder,  Pearsall 
Vignette  Attachment. 

298  FULTON  ST.,  BROOKLYN. 

23rd  Street  Pier,  Brooklyn, 

WILLIAM  M.  TEBO, 

Steam  Dredging,  Ship  Building, 

WHARFAGE,  TOWING  AND  COAL. 

Steam  Dredging — River  and  Harbor  Improvements  ;  Estimates  furnished 
for  any  depth. 

Ship  Building — Dry  Docks  and  Ship  Yard  at  Pier  ;  Repairing  executed 
with  despatch . 

Wharfage— Excellent  facilities  for  laying  up  of  vessels  and  discharging 
ballast. 

Wintering  and  Fitting  Out  Yachts  a  Specialty. 

Towing— Powerful  Tugs  for  Sea  and  Coast  Towing,  fitted  with  wrecking 
apparatus  ;  also  to  charter  for  excursions. 

Coal— Steamers  coaled  at  any  hour  of  day  or  night.  Wood  and  water  on 
pier. 


 NEW  YORK  OFFICE:  

23  SOXTTH  STrLESEST. 


JOHN  S.  LOOMIS, 

■^'iBROOKLYN  CITYi*- 

Moulding  &  Planing  Mill 

LUMBER,  TIMBER     WOOD  MOULDINGS. 


MANUFACTURER  OF 


DOORS,  SHADES  &  BLINDS, 
Cornier  Baltic  and  Nevins  Streets^ 
p.  0.  BOX  98.  J3i«ook:i-^y::v. 

JAMES  E.  KELSEY.  JOHN  LOUGHLIN. 

KELSEY  &  LOUGHLIN, 

DEALERS  IN 

COAL-^- AND  WOOD 

OF  THE  BEST  QUALITY. 

(Established  1847.) 

MAIN  OFFICE,  27  ATLANTIC  AVE., 

DEPOT,  Gowanus  Canal,  Nevins  ST.,  Foot  of  Douglass  St. 

rp«..oxB No. BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


PRATT'S 


ASTRALtOIL. 


SAFE,  UNIFORM,  RELIABLE. 


THE   VERDICT   OF   THE    PUBLIC   AFTER  TWENTY 
YEARS'  TRIAL  IS,   THAT  IT  IS  IN 
IN  ALL  RESPECTS  THE 


FOR  FAMILY  USE  EVER  MADE. 


PRATT  MANUFACTURING  CO., 


NEIV  YORK. 


WL.  ABRAHAM, 

^iatnowb^^   ^|atcfi.ei),  IjcMjcftij-, 
509  FULTON  STREET,  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

REPAIRING  A  SPECIALTY. 

GEORGE  GRAUER^S 

RIDGEWOOD  PARK, 

Myrtle  Avenue,  RIDGEWOOD,  L.  I. 

I".  O.  Address :  Glendale,  L.  I.,       -       QUEEN'S  COUNTY. 

Telephone  Call :  13  Williamsburg. 
Best  Accommodations  for  Picnics,  etc.     The  largest   Pavilion   Platform  in  the  United 
Slates.  150  X  150  Feet. 


ASK   YOUR  FOR 


Or,  acme  licorice  PELETTO. 
Best  goods  in  the  market.    Manufactured  by 
YOUNG  &  SMYLIE, 


58  to  64  South  Sth  Street,       -       B ROOKL YJV,  N.  Y 

DICKERSON  &  BROWN, 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

OTE,  STIFF  km  SOFT  FELT  HATS, 

44  TO  52  Kosciusko  St.,  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

E.  A.  DicKERSON.  Benj.  J.  Brown. 

A.  A.  WEBSTER  &  CO., 

MANUFACTURING 

^ILIIEIiSMITIIS  •  JEllERS  •  HIID  •  OPTICIS, 

241  &  243  Fulton  St.,   -  BROOKLYN. 

(Successor  to  R,  A.  Robertson  &  Co.,) 
MANXJIHACTUREI^  OF"  ANTO  DEALER,  IIV 

ShLOok:^,  Hoop^,  Lumber. 

STAVES  AND  HEADING. 

Yard,  Foot  of  Noble  St.,  Greenpoint.  -  -  9  0 L D  SLI P, * N  E  W  YO RK  . 


Warehouse,  45  Fulton  St.,  New  York. 


Manufactory,  Nos.   1197,   1199,  1201.   1203,   1205,  1207,  1209  and   1211   DeKalb  Avenue, 
BROOKLYIST,  NEW  YORK. 


HOWiVRD  &  MORSE, 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

dopPEB,  Bimss  AID  moil  Wire  Cloth, 

WIRE  WORK,  WIRE  FENCE,  RAILING  AND  GUARDS. 


COPYRIGHTED 


<1H.  F.  BURROUGHS  S  CO.,I> 

 )  DEALERS  IN (  

LIME,  -  BRICKS,  -  LMTH, 

 )  AND  ALL  KINDS  0F(  

MKSONS'  BUILDING  MHTERIHLS. 

{Foot  of  Taylor  Street,  by  the  Wallabout  Bridge, )  Telephone  Call,  428  Williams- 
Kent  Avenue,  foot  of  Hooper  Street,  )  burgh. 
Newtown  Creek,  Junction  of  Grand  Street  and  )  Telephone  Call,  471  Williams- 
Metropolitan  Avenue.                             >  burgh. 


TAYLOR  &  COMPANY, 

66  TO  76  Berry  St.,     BROOKLYN,  E.  D- 

Corner   jSTorth   T'enth.  St. 

Castings  for  Electrical  Work  a  Specialty. 

JOSEPH    T.  PERKINS, 

Mianvilacturer  of 

WORSTED  AO  CAIELS'  HAIR  TAEIS, 

KENT  AVENUE  AND  HOOPER  STREET, 
and  Wythe  Avenue  &  Hewes  Street,      .      BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

CH^S.  FROEB  &  CO., 
75  Tompkins  Avenue  and  J 34  and  136  Hopkins  Avenue, 
MONONGAHELA  PRIVATE  STOCK  WHISKIES, 

IMPORTERS  OF  WINES,  BRANDIES.  Etc. 
WILLIAM  J.  MATHESON  &  CO., 

MANUFACTURING  CHEMISTS, 

Frincipal  Office, 

No.  20  CEDAR  STREET, 

Branch  Houses:  Boston,  Philadelphia  and  Providence.  NEW  YORK. 


NEW  YORK  STAMPING  COMPANY, 

47  'i'o  53  South  Fifth  St.,  Brooklyn,  E.D.,  N.Y.  U.S.A. 

MANUF^ACTLIRERS  OF" 


BUY  YOUR  DRY  GOODS  FROM 

S.  WECHSLKR  &  BRO., 

THE  FOPULAR,  DHY   OOODS  HOUSE, 

Fulton  and  Washington  Streets. 


J.    T.  STORY, 

DEALER^  IN  «COAL, 

YARDS  H--^ 

Nos.  164  to  176  Kent  Avenue, 

Between  Rodney  and  Keap  Streets^ 

 AND  

COR,  NEVINS  &  DEGRAW  STREETS, 
BROOKLYN. 

KENYON  &  NEWTON, 

Lumber  Merchants, 

AND  MANUFACTUKERS  OF 

Sashes,  Blinds,  Doors,  Mouldings,  Etc. 

Office,  528  UNION  STREET, 

Near  Third  Ave?me,  Brooklyn,    N.  Y. 


A.  P.  WERNBERG, 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealer  in 

COAL    &  WOOD 

KAMIIvY   TRADE   A  SPKCIAIvXY. 

Main  Office  and  Wharf, 

THIRD    STREET,    ON    GOMKNUS  CKNKL, 

Branch  Offices,  CLINTON  &  FLUSHING  AVES. 

TELEPHONE  595.  BROOKLI-,' YIVo 


WILLIAM  SPENCE, 

Dealer  in  all  kiiids  of 


ALSO  OAK,  PINE  AND  HICKORY  WOOD. 

Cor.  Flatbush  Avenue  &  Livingston  Street 
and  Cor.  Baltic  Street  &  Third  Avenue, 

•^1-  CKRGOES  SUPPLIED  ON  LIBERAL  TERMS. 14- 


BROOKLYN. 


BUSHWICK   GLASS  WORKS. 


WILLIAM  BROOKFIELD, 

45  Cliff  Street,  New  York. 


]VIan."u.factii.rer  of 


Bottles,  Carboys,  Demijohns,  Insulators,  Etc. 

Every  Description  of 

OREEN  AO  AMBER  GLASS  BLOWN  TO  ORDER. 

TParticialar    Attention     Faid.    to     iPrivate  Moulds. 


BROOKLYN  WIRE  NAIL  GO", 

BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 


Charles   H.   LBoyer.  IHranlc   "SST .  I5<>;.'eT*. 

L.  BOYKR'S  SONS, 

Lighterage  if  Transportation 

90  Wall  Street.  New  York  City. 

Branch  Office,  South  Fifth  Street  Pier,       -       Broolclyn,  E.  D. 
QUICK  I>ir»ATCH. 


HARVEY  W.  PEACE  CO.,  {Limited;) 

MANUFACTURERS    0  F~    Q  S      OF   EVE^RY  DESCRIPTION; 

Circular,  Mill  &  Gang,  Cross-Cut,  Hand,  Back,  Butcher,  Compass,  Wood,  (or  Buck) 
BAND  SAWS,  PATENT  PLASTERING  TROWELS,  WITHOUT  RIVETS. 

189,  191  and  193  Keep  Street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Henry  W.  Shepard,  Pres.       John  J.  Hinman,  V.  Pres't.       Robert  Seaman,  Treasurer. 

IRON  CLAD  MANUFACTURING  CO., 

MamafaetTarers   of  Specialties  in. 

GAiyiNIZED  AND  TINIED  IRON  WAEES, 

.A.LSO,  STEEL    SODT^   W^TER  EOUNT^^IIS^S, 

Factories,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  22  Cliff  Street,  New  York. 

ABENDROTH  &  ROOT  M'F'G  CO., 

lVIar».ufact\ar'ers  of 

<l  WROUGHT  IRON  SECTIONAL  SAFETY  BOILERS,^ 

SJPIRAL.   R-IVETED   STEAM!  I»IE»E, 

28  Cliff  Street,       -       .       .       -       New  York. 
FREDERICK  W.  DAVIS  &  BRO., 

(STJCCESSOR-S   TO    W.  H.  DAA^IS.) 

WALLABOUT  IRON  FOUNDRY, 

62  to  70  Rutledge  St.,  Brooklyn,  E.  D. 

Castings  for  Building  Purposes,  Round  and  Square  Columns,  Window 
Lintels,  Sills,  Iron  Railings,  Castings,  Etc. 

WILLIAM  VOGEL  &  BROTHERS, 

Maiaiafactiarers  of 
Seainless   IBoxes,   Ro-iand.,   Oval   and.   Sqiaare  Cans, 

SPECIAL  ARTICLES  MANUFACTURED  OF  SHEET  METALS, 

41  to  z^']  South  Ninth  Street,  Brooklyn,  E,  D.,  N.  Y. 

William  Vogel.       Henry  J.  Vogel.       Louis  H.  Vogel.  Near  the  Ferries, 

Tlie  Trade,  Hotels,  Rest aiar ants,  ClialDS  &c  Eanailies  Svip'd.. 

THEO.  ROMMENEY'S  SON, 

BOTTLER  ANT)  EXPORTER  OF 

FOREIGN  &  DOMESTIC  BEER,  PHILA.  ALES  &  PORTER, 

MIlSTEn^L  WA.TERS, 

318  and  320  Rutledge  St.,  Brooklyn,  E.  D. 


MARTIN  &  FAY, 

97  WATER  STREET,     -  ■_    NEW  YORK. 

Bonded  and  Free  Storage 

IN  MARTIN'S  STORES, 

Bet.  Fulton  and  W.ill  Street  Ferries,        -         -  BROOKLYN, 

~      FROEHLICH  BROTHERsT 

WINES  AND  LIQUORS. 

Rectifiers  and  Re-Distillers, 

214  &  216  Graham  Avenue,  -  BROOKLYN,  N,  V. 

Telephone  333  Williamsburg. 

NASH,  WHITON  &  CO., 

mmmki  gim  mmwm  <f  electors, 

Nos.  20  to  42  inclusive,  Commercial  Wharf,    -  BROOKLYN. 

CAP*ACITY   2,000,000  IBXJSHEI^S. 

F.  r'oCH  O  W, 

MANUFACTURER  OP 

EI&IITES,  YMMK  SAWn&  MACHIIfES 

And  Machinery  in  General. 

Cor.  Bridge  and  Plymouth  Streets,         -  -  BROOKLYN. 

^miTIC  WHITE  LEIll  UNI  Lira  OIL  Cfl„ 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

"Atlantic"   White  Lead. 

Also,  Red  Lead,  Powdered  and  Flake  Litharge,  Glass-House  Lead, 
and  Refined  Glass-House  Lead. 

LINSEED  OIL,  RA      BOILED  &  REFINED, 

Also  a  Superior  Grade  for  Yarni.sh  Makers'  use. 

DEALER  O  COAL  AITD  WOOD, 

WHARF  AND  YARDS  : 

(rrand  Street,  Junction  Metropolitan  Ave.,  Newtown  Creek. 
213  &  215  Kent  Av.,  bet.  N.  ist  &  N.  2d  Sts.,   BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 

Telephone  340  Williamsburg. 


WSW  T&'MM 

 AND   


(MALLORY  LINES), 

 TO  


TEXAS,  FLORIDA,  GEORGIA 

AND  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 


Nothing  has  been  overlooked  in  the  construction  of  these  vessels,  and  their  fine  model, 
full  power  and  excellent  sea-going  qualities,  iiave  won  for  them  the  enviable  reputation  they 
possess.  Passenger  accommodations,  both  cabin  and  steerage,  are  unsurpassed.  State-rooins 
being  above  the  main  deck  are  light,  roomy  and  thoroughly  ventilated,  thus  assuring  to  the 
traveler  the  greatest  degree  of  comfort  attainable. 

Connections  are  made,  at  all  the  ports  at  which  these  steamers  touch,  with  all 
railroads  and  ste.\mboats. 

Through  Coupon  TicivETS  are  on  sale,  and  Through  Rates  of  Passage  and  Freight  are 
named  to  interior  towns  and  cities,  including  those  of  California,  Mexico,  New  Mexico  and 
Arizona. 

No  other  passenger  steamers  run  between  New  York  and  the  ports  named  above  except 
Fernandina. 

THIS  IS  THE  FAVORITE  ROUTE  TO  FLORIDA. 

■    ¥o:  rates  of  freight,  passage,  printed  matter  and  general  information,  address 

C.  H.  MALLORY  &  CO.,  Gen.  Agents, 

Fier  SO,  East  River,  New  York. 


1fll)tol24G[lEEI[ST,4224FlllliKlllST„ 


ORE^KNPOINT,  L.  I. 


OFFICE  : 

201  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK. 


JU 


kmw  Leathef  Link  Belt 

COMPANY. 

CHAS.  A.  SCHIEREN  k  CO, 

Sole  Agents, 

45-5 1  ^^^^'^^A 

C0K.C1.FK  St.,       new  YORK. 


BRANCHES: 


Phii-adelphia:     -     416  Arch  Stkeei. 
American  Patent  Joint.  "  Federal  Street. 

Also  Manufacturers  and  Tanners  of 

OAK  LEATHER  BELTING     LACE  LEATHER. 

Oor.  13th  Street  &  Third  Avenue,  BROOKLYN. 


JOSEPH  WILD. 


JOHN  CARTLEDGE. 


JOSEPH  WILD  &  CO., 

Manufacturers  of 

Table  *  and  *  S^air  *  {]\\^ «  Qloths, 

FELT  GOODS  OF  ALL  KI^DS 

COCOA  MATS  AND  MATTING,       SHEEP  SKINS, 
SMYRNA  RUGS. 

82  and  84  Worth  St.,    m     ii  and  13  Thomas  St., 
NEW  YORK.  — 


PLAITED  SKIRT  BRAID 


W.    C.    BOOrVE,  Jr., 

Successor  to  Boone  &  Vandervoort, 

ESng^ii^ooi*  cfc  IVEaiclxixxist;, 

COR.  OF  PARK  AVENUE  AND  SANDFORD  STREET,  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y., 

Manufacturer  of  Boone  &  Pittman's  Patent  Rope  and  Forming  Macliines  and  Woodworth'^ 
Rope  Laying  Machines.  Also,  manufacturer  of  Hemp,  Jute,  Rope  and  Twine  Machineryof 
every  description.  Manufacturer  of  Steam  Engines  and  Pumps,  Boilers,  Shafting,  Millwork, 
&c.  Jobbing  punctually  attended  to.  Babbit's  Metal  and  a  full  stock  of  all  kinds  of  Steam 
Fittings  and  Valves  constantly  on  hand.      Telephone  call,  388  Williamsburgh. 


C.  T.  RAYNOLDS    &  CO., 

Color  Makers  and  M!a.n.ufact\irers  of 

Paints,  Artists'   Materials   and  Varnishes, 

106  AND  108  FULTON  STREET. 
21  Lake  St,,  CHICAGO.  NEW  YORK, 

CHARLES  T.  RAYNOLDS.  EDWARD  L.  MOLINEUX. 

THOMAS  B.  HIDDEN.  AQUILA  RICH. 

LEONARD  RICHARDSON.  ■  EDWARD  H.  RAYNOLDS. 

Established  by  Wm.  Post  in  1770. 


LIEBMANN  BRO'S  &  OWINGS, 


Fulton,  Washington  and  Tillary  Streets. 

FINE  DRY  GOODS  &  CARPETS. 

CONCORD  STREET  GLASS  WORKS, 

o<l  Hibbler  &  Rausch,t>o 


CORNER  CONCORD  &  PRINCE  STS,,  BROOKLYN,  N.  T. 


-^1-  Peter  Bertsch.,  -I^ 

Carriages,  Business  Wagons,  Trucks,  Fire  Apparatus  and  Railroad 
Cars  Painted  in  a  First-Class  Manner.    Signs  of  all  kinds, 
Plain  and  Ornamental. 
364,  366,  368,  370  <&  374  Broadway,  BROOKLYN,  E.D, 

Established  1863.  Telephone  Williamsburgh,  474. 

JOHN  J.  HAYES, 

ENGINEER  -  AND  -  machinist; 

<$or\)qv  \{qY)t  ai^d  WJe^t  Streets, 


One  block  from  loth  and  23d  St.  Ferries,         GREENPOINT.  L.  L 


W.  A.  A.  BROWN,  President.  W.  K.  CLARKSON,  Secretary. 
H.  L.  GREENMAN,  Vice  Pres't.     R.  McC.  COLLINS,  Treasurer. 


Budweiser  Brewinff  Co. 


(LIMITED.) 


F^rankilin  Avenue, 
Dean  and  Bergen  Sts.,  BROOKLTI,  I.  T. 


J.  W.  BROWN.  Vice-President.  H.  C.  BROWN.  Secretary. 

LONG  ISLAND  BREWERY, 

81  TO  91  Third  Avenue, 

BROOPCLYN. 

dick  &  meyer, 
Sugar  Rekinkrs, 

110  Wall  St.,  New  York. 

Refinery,  Foot  or  North  7th  and  North  Eighth  Streets.         -        -  BROOKLYN. 

THOMAS  F.  TAYLOR, 

COAL  YARD, 

5S8  TO  594  Kent  Avenue, 

Foot  of  Wilson  St.,    BROOKLYN,  E.  D. 

LAWRENCE   ROPE  WORKS, 

Makers  of  all  Kinds  of 

C-O-R-D-A-G-E 

160  Front  Street,  NEW  YORK. 


MEDITERRANEAN 


New  YOFk 


JUl 


AX  I  ) 


MYI&AZIOM  GEIEMLE  ITALIIII 

Sailing  between  New  York  and  all  Mediter- 
ranean, Adriatic  and  Black  Sea  Ports, 

Leaving  Mediterninean  Piers,  Broolilyu,  semi-monthly. 


SUPERIOR  ACCOMMODATION  FOR  PASSENGERS. 


PHELPS  BROTHERS  #  CO.,  AGENTS, 
31  Broadway,    -    NEW  YORK. 

NEW  YORK 

—AND  

South  Brooklyn  Ferry  Co. 

Running  from  Pier  2,  East  River,  at  the  Battery,  to  39th  Street 
and  2nd  Avenue,  South  Brooklyn.  First  boat  leaves  Brooklyn  at 
5.30  a.  m.,  last  boat  leaves  Brooklyn  at  10.30  p.  m.  First  boat 
leaves  New  York  at  6  a.  m.,  last  boat  leaves  New  York  at  11  p.  m. 
Boats  leave  each  shore  on  the  hour  and  half  hour. 

J.   W.   AMBROSE,  President 

WILLIAM  A.  STEPHENS,  FRANCIS  H.  BERGEN, 

Treasurer.  Secretary. 

Offices :  Pier  2,  East  River,  IfEW  YOEK. 


STANDARD 

POLIO  E  C  LOTHS 

MANUFACTURED  BY 

Bijrli9(5top  U/ooleF)  Qp.. 

WINOOSKI,  VERMONT. 

In    Use   by   BROOKLYN   and   other  large 
Police   Departments  through- 
out the  Country. 

^AiuYGR,  mw  &  mmninG, 

SOLE  AOENTS. 


86  and  88  Franklin  Street,  NE  W  YORK, 

68  Chauncey  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 


I 


1 


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